João Cancelo has officially left Manchester City to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. As per Fabrizio, it is a deal worth £25 million. he 30 year old Portuguese full-back, who was instrumental in City’s successes after joining from Juventus for £60 million in 2019, leaves behind a legacy of 154 appearances and nine goals for the Premier League champions.
Cancelo’s time at Manchester City was marked by his pivotal role in securing three Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and a League Cup. He also played six times during City’s historic Champions League victory in the 2022-23 season. However, a reported fallout with manager Pep Guardiola over playing time led to Cancelo’s loan spells at Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Despite initial hopes that João Cancelo could reintegrate into Guardiola’s squad, the Portuguese international was left out of City’s first two Premier League matches this season. With opportunities at City dwindling, Al-Hilal swooped in to secure his signature, offering Cancelo a lucrative three-year contract that reportedly includes an annual salary of £15 million.
At Al-Hilal, Cancelo joins a star-studded lineup, including Brazilian icon Neymar and former Premier League players Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, and Aleksandar Mitrovic, under the guidance of coach Jorge Jesus. This move to the Saudi Pro League marks Cancelo as Al-Hilal’s first high-profile signing of the transfer window, further bolstering their squad as they aim for domestic and continental success.
Reflecting on his time at Manchester City, Cancelo expressed gratitude for the experiences and memories he gained at the club, stating, “I had many very special moments during my time here. I would like to thank my teammates, the coaches, all the staff at City, and the fans for everything.”
João Cancelo’s last competitive appearance was during Portugal’s Euro 2024 campaign, where they were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals. As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, all eyes will be on how Cancelo adapts to his new surroundings in the Middle East.
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