In a surprising move, Joao Cancelo was notably absent from Manchester City’s squad during their Premier League opener against Burnley. The Portuguese full-back’s name was conspicuously absent from Pep Guardiola’s team sheet as Manchester City secured a victory over Burnley on Friday night. This unexpected omission has triggered fresh waves of speculation surrounding Cancelo’s future, particularly in light of recent reports linking him to a potential transfer to Barcelona.
The larger context surrounding Cancelo’s status has been a topic of discussion for some time. His situation took an intriguing turn when he returned to Manchester after spending the latter part of the previous season on loan at Bayern Munich. Following the conclusion of Friday’s match, well-known transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano indicated that Barcelona had revived their interest in the defender. The timing of this speculation aligns with Barcelona’s recent efforts to create financial flexibility to facilitate new signings.