Joao Cancelo’s move to Bayern Munich was a mutually beneficial deal.
Since the World Cup, the full-playing back’s time has been severely reduced, and it is plainly in Manchester City and Pep Guardiola’s best interests to replace a player who is dissatisfied with his playing time. There was no need for Cancelo to behave differently because Guardiola did not obstruct Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, or Ferran Torres.
It was also not unexpected that City would not sign a player to replace Joao Cancelo in case he left. The City manager stated in August that he preferred a much smaller roster than other teams.
“I like to work with not a lot of players and have everyone involved,” he said. Whatever it is, it is.
We’ve demonstrated over the past few years that we have a tiny squad and are still in the running. Winter is a time when we can take on transfers that we are currently unable to perform.
But in the upcoming months, this strategy will be tested to its absolute maximum. City’s current left-back of choice is Nathan Ake.
The only left-back who is considered “recognized” in the group is Sergio Gomez, although he has had a difficult time adjusting to life in Manchester and has not yet reached the point where he can be counted on consistently. Aymeric Laporte, like Ake, has demonstrated his ability to perform in the full-back position, but there is a problem.
Ake and Laporte may be required in their natural center-back positions to fill voids as a result of John Stones’ ongoing injury and Ruben Dias’ ongoing tardy return from a period on the sidelines. Rico Lewis might have a major challenge if this were true.
The young man has already demonstrated his versatility in the first team. When necessary, Guardiola has used Lewis in the central midfield position, and he has done well.
As a result, it’s possible that Guardiola will choose to switch Lewis to left-back while playing Kyle Walker as right-back once more. Cancelo was able to play on the opposite wing from the one that comes naturally before moving to Bayern on loan.
Lewis, who is only 18 years old, is still young enough to be developed into the player that City needs. Of course, there is a chance that Lewis will struggle in that role, in which case Guardiola may need to have a lot of confidence in Gomez to step up.
But at this time last year, it seemed unlikely that Cancelo would quit the Etihad and Lewis would become a mainstay of the first team. Lewis is capable of taking on this challenge, which may provide another proof of Guardiola’s brilliance.
Share Your Thoughts: Will Rico Lewis Succeed at Manchester City?
