Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that the club was so eager to offload Joao Cancelo in January that they would have allowed him to join their bitter rivals, Manchester United. Cancelo, who had fallen out with Guardiola due to a lack of playing time, made a surprising move to Bayern Munich on loan.

While there were rumors of interest from Barcelona, with manager Xavi claiming that they had a bid for Cancelo blocked in the winter window, City maintains that they did not receive any offers for the Portuguese international. Guardiola, speaking at a charity golf event, dismissed Xavi’s claims and stated that they were willing to entertain offers for Cancelo regardless of the destination, even if it meant him joining Manchester United.

Guardiola expressed his belief that Xavi had been misinformed about the situation, stating, “I think they [Barcelona] have informed him very badly. He is far from reality. The reality was that we decided that he had to leave, and we didn’t care where he was going, even if he wanted to go to United, which is our rival.” Guardiola emphasized that the decision to part ways with Cancelo was made by the player and Bayern Munich, but reports suggest that the Bundesliga side is unlikely to exercise the option to make the move permanent, which has opened the door for other clubs.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has indicated that Barcelona is currently leading the race for Cancelo’s signature. Although Arsenal has shown appreciation for the player and held talks with his agent, Romano believes that Barcelona is the frontrunner in the pursuit of the 29-year-old defender. While Guardiola remains uncertain about why Cancelo did not sign for Barcelona, he affirmed that it is ultimately a matter for the Sporting Director, Txiki Begiristain, and the club to decide.

The future of Joao Cancelo remains uncertain, with various clubs vying for his services. Guardiola’s revelation about Manchester City’s willingness to let him join Manchester United showcases the extent of their desire to offload the player in January. Although Barcelona appears to be the current frontrunner, the situation is subject to change, and other clubs, such as Arsenal, may still be in contention for Cancelo’s signature. Ultimately, it will be up to Cancelo’s representative and the clubs involved to determine his next destination, while City maintains that they did not receive any offers for the talented full-back.