Joao Cancelo opens up on productive loan spell at Bayern Munich
Barcelona full-back Joao Cancelo has opened up on the productive loan spell at Bayern Munich during the second half of last season.
Bayern Munich have been active in the last two winter transfer windows to strengthen the full-back position. They broke their winter transfer record to sign Sacha Boey from Galatasaray in the recent winter transfer window. Bayern pulled off a shock deal to sign Joao Cancelo on loan from Manchester City in January 2023.
Cancelo was an exciting signing for Die Roten since he made a positive impact at both ends of the pitch due to his quality on the ball. The Portuguese full-back started well under Julian Nagelsmann, but his playing time subsequently regressed by the end of the season.
The former Inter Milan full-back returned to Manchester City in the summer since Bayern decided against signing him permanently. He would have been an expensive buy for the Bavarian club. They decided to strengthen the full-back position in the summer by signing Raphael Guerreiro from Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer. Konrad Laimer also provided good cover in the right-back position.
Cancelo ended his time at Bayern with a Bundesliga title. Despite a short stay in Munich, Cancelo has fond memories of his time in Germany. While talking to Abola (via iMiaSanMia) during the international break, Cancelo insisted that joining Bayern was the right decision. He enjoyed playing with quality players in Munich.
"“I feel like I made the right choice. I went to a club that really wanted me - they wanted me even before renewing my contract with City. Bayern was a club that gave me a lot in the six months I was there. I played with great players and the club was spectacular.""
- Joao Cancelo
The Portuguese defender also insisted that the Bundesliga was much tougher than his expectations. Cancelo was pleased to win the Bundesliga title as the title race with Borussia Dortmund went down to the wire. He has no regrets about joining Die Roten despite Manchester City winning the treble in the same season.
Cancelo played for Manchester City against Bayern in a pre-season game last summer. The Bavarian club was linked with a move for Cancelo in the final days of the summer transfer window when Benjamin Pavard left Munich to join Inter Milan. However, rumours never materialized into a concrete offer from Die Roten. Cancelo ended up joining FC Barcelona on a season-long loan.
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After the departure of Cancelo and Pavard in the summer, Noussair Mazraoui started the season as first-choice right-back at Bayern. Laimer replaced Mazraoui in the starting lineup when the latter was ruled out due to injuries. The Austrian midfielder shared the right-back duties with Mazraoui throughout the Hinrunde.
Mazraoui and Laimer suffered injuries in January, forcing Bayern to look for a right-back in the transfer market. They ended up signing Boey from Galatasaray after their efforts to sign Nordi Mukiele from PSG on a loan deal failed to materialize. Boey has endured an unfortunate start to life in Bavaria as he has suffered two different injuries that may end up keeping him out for ten weeks.