Manchester City outcast and Arsenal target Joao Cancelo has been spotted training with soon-to-be Gunner Declan Rice.
Ilkay Gundogan is the only first team player to leave City so far this summer, but Cancelo is expected to follow.
The Portuguese full-back fell out of favour at City last season, and it could be that he ends up at one of City’s Premier League title rivals.
Cancelo finds unlikely training partner
A photo shared on social media shows Cancelo training with Declan Rice in Portugal.
The pair are joined by Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes and AC Milan attacker Rafael Leao, but the link-up between Rice and Cancelo is interesting.
City loaned Cancelo to Bayern Munich in January after Pep Guardiola felt the defender’s attitude was negatively affecting the dressing room.
The deal included a £62m purchase option, although the Bundesliga champions opted not to activate it.
Pep Guardiola has reportedly made it clear to City that he does not want Cancelo in his squad this season.
Subsequently, the 29-year-old has been linked with a number of clubs including Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
It now looks like the former will not be able to afford Cancelo this summer, but Arsenal have emerged as another potential suitor.
The Gunners are looking to strengthen their squad after losing out on the Premier League title to City last season.
Mikel Arteta’s side have already beaten City in the race to sign Declan Rice, with the announcement of the English record transfer imminent.
Now they want to capitalise on Cancelo’s situation at City and sign another world-class player.
Future teammates?
Cancelo and Rice training together could be unrelated, but it feels like too much of a coincidence given that both are in Arsenal’s sights.
One thing is for certain – should both join Arsenal then the Gunners will have two players who in an ideal world Guardiola would have liked in his squad.
