Leaving Manchester City in the past few years must have been a difficult decision for any of the club’s now-former players.
City are one of the biggest clubs in the world as well as one of the best teams on the planet currently.
The chance to work with Pep Guardiola that even some of the best players in the history of the game have not had.
Manchester City seem to be set up in a way to succeed, not just in the present but in the future as well.
As a result, it is a massive career risk to leave the club.
Ilkay Gundogan told City’s official YouTube channel that the Sky Blues are “the best club in the world” and one where only leaving makes one realise how incredible an institution is.
However, Joao Cancelo has decided to depart the Etihad Stadium in favour of a move to Al Hilal.
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McCoist reacts to Cancelo leaving Man City to sign for Al Hilal
Unlike in the cases of Gundogan, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, it seemed crystal clear that the Portuguese international was no longer in Pep Guardiola’s plans.
As a result, Cancelo had no choice but to look for a way out of City this summer.
Every player desires a sense of stability in their careers.
After heading out on two loan moves to Bayern Munich and Barcelona, the 30-year-old would have aspired for the same in his career.
However, Ally McCoist has admitted that he cannot quite fathom why Cancelo decided to head to the Saudi Pro League, considering he still has a few years left in the game.
The pundit said on talkSPORT: “But I just think he’s one of these players, I don’t see a future for him at City, that’s for sure. But again, he’s 30. I’m not sure at 30 years of age, you should be wanting to go to Saudi.”
“Again, it’s a similar, not the exact same but I just think it’s a similar decision to Ivan Toney [who is linked with Al-Ahli], Alan. You look at someone like Jordan Henderson who went there, didn’t fancy it and ended up in the Netherlands.”
“If you look at it that way, you’re signing your career away effectively. The point I’m trying to make is, if you leave to go to Saudi Arabia, you’re not coming back to a bigger club, that’s my point.”
The way Cancelo has fallen from grace is something else
Considering Cancelo was an indispensable member of Manchester City’s side not too long ago, the fact that he has left European football by the age of 30 is well and truly a unique situation.
The former Valencia full-back was especially keen in City’s successive Premier League title triumphs in 2021 and 2022.
Before the 2022 Qatar World Cup, it seemed nigh-on impossible to imagine the versatile technician playing anywhere else apart from City.
However, since then, Cancelo’s career has nosedived to the extent that he decided to join Al Hilal.
As Ally McCoist claimed, the ex-Juventus defender’s chances of returning to Europe and playing for an elite club seem minimal.
Especially as Cancelo is already 30 and not many top clubs would be willing to sign an ageing asset.
However, his career has taken an unexpected turn to say the least.
