Berlin, Jan. 31 (BNA): Bayern Munich strengthened its struggling team by signing Portuguese left-back Joao Cancelo on loan from Manchester City on Tuesday, the last day of the transfer window.
Bayern said Cancelo, 28, had joined “on an initial deal until the end of this season”. The German club has the option to make the move permanent for a fee of €70m ($76m).
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said the deal was “very spontaneous” and reached after Bayern’s last game on Saturday, reports the Associated Press.
Nagelsmann added that Cancelo may play his first match with Bayern on Wednesday against Mainz in the German Cup, but this has not yet been decided.
Cancelo, who has scored five goals and set up 11 more times in 98 Premier League appearances for City, will give City more security in defense and threat in attack ahead of next month’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
Regarded as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League, Cancelo had lost his starting place at City to Nathan Ake since the World Cup, as he also dropped out of Portugal’s starting line-up after the group stage.
City manager Pep Guardiola, who previously coached Bayern Munich, has favored Ake, who is usually a centre-back, at left-back since the World Cup.
Cancelo came through Benfica’s youth system before leaving for Valencia, initially on loan, in 2014. He later joined Inter Milan on loan before moving to Italian rivals Juventus in 2018. He joined City a year later.
Last year, Cancelo extended his contract with City until 2027. Cancelo has scored seven goals in 41 appearances for Portugal.
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