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    Bundesliga News: Guardiola confident Man City can deal with Cancelo’s surprise departure

    Pep Guardiola has no doubt that Manchester City will be able to handle the loss of Joao Cancelo after he left on loan for the rest of the season to Bayern Munich.

    Cancel was unexpectedly allowed to leave the club for a temporary move to the Allianz Arena on the last day of the January transfer window on Tuesday.

    Bayern board member Hasan Salihamidzic confirmed the move could become permanent after the initial loan period, with a €70m (£62.7m) purchase option included in the deal.

    Formerly an integral part of City thanks to his ability to play both at full-back and midfield, Cancelo started more Premier League games than any other City outfield player (36) last season as they won the title. making more touches (3,908) and attempting more passes than anyone else in the league (2,951).

    But he fell out of favor after the World Cup, with Guardiola’s manager favoring Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, John Stones and even 18-year-old Rico Lewis at full back.

    The Stones, Guardiola confirmed ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game against Tottenham, will be out for about three weeks with a hamstring injury.

    But Guardiola isn’t bothered by the left-back’s lack of depth after Cancelo left.

    “First, I wish him all the best in his four months [at Bayern]. Next season I don’t know what will happen,” Guardiola said.

    “An incredible number in the last two leagues we have won. After the World Cup, we did the pre-season and decided to play, according to some schemes, in a different way. I like what I watch. I devote more time to other players.

    “His personality, mine, he loves to play. He trains the best, a situation in which he plays little. In recent years, one of the players with more minutes. He needs to play to be happy, so we decide to let him go to Munich.

    “He wants to play every game and hopefully he can in Munich.

    “If Bayern Munich want Joao, it’s because he’s an exceptional player. I won’t say a bad word, his work ethic, passion, skills. Everyone knows this. Sometimes a day or two before the window.

    “I’m always happy with the squad. If you’re unsure, it’s better to have money in the bank and not be criticized for spending more.”

    Canselu made his debut for Bayern in a 4-0 win over Mainz in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday, providing an assist 17 minutes into the match.

    Asked if the club considered signing a replacement, Guardiola replied: “We talked, but it took three minutes. I said you have something [director of football] chiki [Begiristain] Said no. I said wait.

    “We could go to the market and pay a huge amount of money. I prefer a few months before the end of the season. We can do without. We’ll see in the summer.

    “We can handle the situation in all departments. I trust the players.

    “If I had a feeling, I would tell my bosses that we should do this. FROM [Manuel] Akanji, I said we need another centre-back. Nathan got hurt, Reuben [Dias] also John. We had such an opportunity. In this case, it’s different.”

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