Skip to content

Cancelo joins City, Danilo heads to Juventus in pricey swap deal

Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC / Juventus FC / Getty

Manchester City added Joao Cancelo to their rotation of defenders on Wednesday, signing the Portuguese right-back from Juventus for €65 million.

As part of the deal, the Bianconeri agreed to take Brazilian counterpart Danilo from the Premier League champions for €37 million.

The move gives City manager Pep Guardiola - who now counts Cancelo and Kyle Walker as potential right-backs - some flexibility in defense. Given Guardiola's predilection for inverted full-backs, the right-footed Cancelo could find himself on the opposite flank, where he'd be instructed to cut in and create from midfield. Additionally, Walker has experience as a center-back in a three-man defense.

No matter where he plays, Cancelo's enterprising spirit should fit right into Guardiola's attack-minded system. He completed more take-ons (61) than any other defender in Serie A last season, and even made himself available as a winger in Massimiliano Allegri's starting lineup.

Danilo is widely considered a downgrade. The 28-year-old has struggled for consistency in recent years and made just nine starts for City last season.

However, Juventus can offer Danilo a greater role in 2019-20, with Mattia De Sciglio being the only other right-back at manager Maurizio Sarri's disposal.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox