Manchester City number two Juanma Lillo is said to have had a particularly close bond with Joao Cancelo, who is now on the verge of leaving the club.
Cancelo is set to depart the Etihad Stadium again this summer, with Barcelona poised to snap him up.
The Portugal international has failed to convince Pep Guardiola that he should be reintegrated into the squad.
He appeared in pre-season for City.
But so far, he has been overlooked for the club’s three games of 2023/34 (including the Community Shield).
Apparently, Barcelona are confident of signing him. And it was claimed yesterday that City and Barca have reached an agreement for the player’s loan, with an option to buy in the summer of 2024.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has suggested there will be a breakthrough soon.
Juanma Lillo had a great bond with departing Man City star Joao Cancelo
Ahead of the new season, City announced that Juanma Lillo had returned to the club for a second spell, after going to manage Al Sadd in Qatar.
Today, The Athletic have produced an intriguing report on what Lillo has brought to the club since he came back.
And there is an interesting line about halfway through the piece.
Apparently, Lillo had ‘impressed with his individual work with players, despite not learning English to any great degree’.
It is stated that Cancelo has been a player he has been close with at the club.
Previously, it has been reported that Lillo also had a good bond with Cole Palmer.
Lillo return seemingly couldn’t save Cancelo from the exit
It looks as though, even though Lillo had a great bond with Cancelo, there is zero chance of a renaissance for the 29-year-old at City.
Everything looks on track now for him to join Barcelona.
Clearly, Cancelo’s behaviour was such that Guardiola will now not reintegrate him.
It’s a shame how the situation has transpired, because Cancelo was so good for City in the last couple of years.
But it’s good to read such a positive piece on Lillo. It sounds like he’ll be a great asset to the squad once again.
