Joao Cancelo opened the scoring for Manchester City in their Carabao Cup quarter-final victory at Oxford United and the Portuguese full-back went close to doubling his tally when he saw another effort strike the outside of the post.
Cancelo, who is valued at £45m by TransferMarkt, was City’s standout performer according to WhoScored.com and his display has been dubbed ‘better than prime Cafu’.
Can Cancelo push on and challenge Kyle Walker for a regular starting place?
Yes
No
Better than prime Cafu
— CITY (@TheGermanking_) December 18, 2019
My motm tonight!
— Kyle Gaffney (@kyle_gaffney7) December 18, 2019
He’s a good lad
Nice display……
Cmon city— UNCLE BARRY (@McFamous4) December 18, 2019
?????
— Cancelo Deprê (@cancelodepre) December 18, 2019
?
— Bruno (@Bruno__c) December 18, 2019
What do we think?
It’s fair to say Joao Cancelo’s time at Manchester City so far hasn’t gone as he or Pep Guardiola would have liked. Signed from Juventus in the summer for £58.5m according to Transfermarkt.co.uk – he’s made just six appearances in the Premier League this season. The 25-year-old has averaged a performance rating of 6.95/10 (via WhoScored.com) in comparison to the 8.4/10 display he turned in at the Kassam Stadium.
It wasn’t quite vintage Cafu but the City faithful will be hopeful Wednesday night’s game, all be it against lower league opposition will be a platform from which Cancelo can build and put himself in contention for a starting place in the Premier League.