Man City ready to take forgotten man Joao Cancelo on pre-season tour if Barcelona fail to seal £25m transfer
MANCHESTER CITY are refusing to budge over Barcelona’s efforts to sign Joao Cancelo on the cheap.
And they could even take the out-of-favour Portuguese star on next month’s trip to America.
Cancelo, 30, spent last season on loan at Barcelona and they would love to sign him permanently.
Yet they insist their financial woes mean they cannot raise the £25million asking price.
The defender is keen to stay and will reduce his £180,000-a-week wages.
City will only let him go if the Catalans pay a fee to have him for another season, meet his full wages — and give a commitment to buy next summer.
Earlier this week, it was revealed Pep Guardiola had sensationally opened the door to a return for the full back.
Cancelo has been in exile for 17 months after a reported row with Guardiola.
He returned to Eastlands last summer for pre-season but was sent out on another loan to Barcelona.
Guardiola has said the deal needs to be right for both parties if they are to part ways.
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The 53-year-old said: “It has to be the best for everyone. The two clubs will sit down.
“He is our player and, if an agreement is not reached, he will have to return in the pre-season.
“If he wants to stay here [at Barcelona], and the clubs agree, it will be done again.”
Suggestions his back-to-back loan spells were the result of an explosive bust-up with Guardiola enraged Cancelo, who told ABola: “Lies were told!
“I’ve never been a bad team-mate for them and you can ask either [Nathan] Ake or Rico [Lewis].
“I don’t have any superiority or inferiority complex towards them, but that’s the manager’s opinion.”
Pep Guardiola set for final Man City season
By Martin Blackburn
AFTER eight glorious years of stability, Manchester City now head into an uncertain 12 months.
And Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat to neighbours United was a reminder that this glittering and unforgettable era will not go on for ever.
Around this time in 2025, City will be preparing for the highly-lucrative Fifa Club World Cup in the US.
Yet in all likelihood they will also be getting ready to say their goodbyes to manager Pep Guardiola, who has brought so much success to the east side of Manchester.
Meanwhile, there could be a verdict on 115 charges of financial irregularity which have been levelled at the club by Premier League chiefs.
The suggestion is the hearing could start later this year but is likely to take several months to reach a conclusion.
City continue to deny any wrongdoing and are confident they will be cleared by the independent commission.
Read Martin Blackburn’s full column here.