Cancelo makes Bayern loan switch as City offload Portuguese defender

Bayern Munich have signed Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo on loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy in the summer.

Cancelo, 28, has fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola in recent weeks and was benched for City's last three outings having not provided a goal or assist in the Premier League since October.

Academy graduate Rico Lewis appears to have become Guardiola's preferred right-back option since the 2-1 loss at Manchester United earlier this month.

Reports emerged yesterday suggesting the Portuguese ace had a training-ground bust-up with his boss after learning he would not start the FA Cup clash with Arsenal.

Cancelo adds to a Bayern outfit struggling for form, drawing all of their last three Bundesliga games, but the Bavarians do lead the German top flight by one point after 18 matches.

Julian Nagelsmann's side travel to Mainz on Wednesday for their DFB-Pokal last-16 clash before a trip to Wolfsburg on Sunday.

On joining the Bundesliga champions, Cancelo said: "Bayern is a great club, one of the best in the world, and it’s enormous motivation for me to now play alongside these extraordinary players in a team.

"I know that this club, this team lives for titles and wins titles every year. I’m also driven by the hunger for success. I‘ll give my best for Bayern."

Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic added: "We’re very happy that Joao Cancelo will now play for Bayern.

"We’ve signed him on loan now and have the possibility of signing him permanently in the summer.

"Joao is a player we’ve been thinking about for a while now because we very much appreciate his qualities.

"He’s the optimal fit in our system with his attacking style of play and dynamism, and his mentality and experience fit very well in our team.

"I’m convinced Joao will help us in the coming weeks and months where we want to win titles."

Portuguese international Cancelo moved to the Etihad from Juventus in 2019 and has twice won the Premier League with the Citizens.

The versatile full-back also won domestic league titles in previous spells at Benfica and Juve and signed a five-year contract last February.