Joao Cancelo is one of the top performers at ManCity. City rivals United, on the other hand, once ignored the warmest recommendations of an insider.
Gary Neville had recommended him personally, raved about him and advised him to do so. After all, the now 46-year-old had seen up close what this boy was capable of. But at his ex-club Manchester United, the enthusiasm for an extraordinarily talented kicker fell on deaf ears.
“I called England. You can imagine which club I mean,” the United icon explained on her own podcast for Sky Sports: “I said, ‘If you are looking for a young player, he is one you should take.'”
The addressee was the English record champions. And the reason for picking up the phone – a certain Joao Cancelo.
Yes, the Cancelo, who today regularly puts on his shoes in the Etihad Stadium of the unloved neighbor Manchester City. And once ignored United despite the warmest recommendation.
“Athletic machine” Cancelo: gifted with all abilities
Who, if not Neville, who worked with the young Portuguese during his four months as head coach of Valencia CF in the 2015/16 season and is United through and through, would know better?
After all, Cancelo, who was born in Benfica, brought almost everything to Neville. “He’s an athletic machine. He’s an excellent runner, he’s great with the ball, he’s a tough guy too. He’s strong, he’s brave in defense, he influences the game in defense and attack.” , Neville couldn’t get out of the raving.
Cancelo met all of his coach’s expectations, “because sometimes players don’t reach their potential, but he reaches it. I couldn’t be happier for him as a person.”
The now 27-year-old was a young player when he was with the Ches, “but you could just see an extraordinary talent. One who could play in the Premier League,” said Neville.
United apparently did not realize this.
City star Joao Cancelo: Indispensable for Pep
Instead of the English record champions, Cancelo moved to Inter Milan on loan in 2017, and then a year later to Juventus Turin, where, according to Neville, he was “tougher from a defensive point of view”. Again twelve months later, the Portuguese international went to City – for a whopping 65 million euros.
“When City paid that amount for him, the only doubt I had was the fact that City was spending so much money on a full-back again. The club was pretty well filled in that position,” said Neville.
After initial teething problems, Cancelo is now indispensable for city coach Pep Guardiola. In the meantime, he also made it onto the radar of FC Bayern Munich.
Cancelo has played 93 competitive games so far across all competitions for the Skyblues, a championship title, two league cup wins as well as six goals and eleven assists. Five goal preparations resulted from this season alone.
And just in the most recent 2-0 derby win over United, Cancelo also struck. Gary Neville should feel vindicated.
