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Cancelo Could Leave Man City amid Link with Bayern Munich

Manchester City's Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Manchester City at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 28, 2022. (AFP)
Manchester City's Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Manchester City at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 28, 2022. (AFP)
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Cancelo Could Leave Man City amid Link with Bayern Munich

Manchester City's Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Manchester City at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 28, 2022. (AFP)
Manchester City's Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Manchester City at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 28, 2022. (AFP)

Joao Cancelo might have played his last game for Manchester City.

The Portugal fullback has reportedly traveled to Bayern Munich ahead of a potential loan move to the German champions, who would have an option to buy Cancelo for 70 million euros ($76 million).

Cancelo, who can play as a right back or left back, is an attacking defender who has played an integral role for City in recent seasons but has fallen out of favor with manager Pep Guardiola since the World Cup.

Cancelo has started only three of City’s nine games in all competitions since domestic competition resumed in late December after the tournament in Qatar.

Nathan Ake has been preferred to Cancelo at left back while 18-year-old Rico Lewis has established himself at right back as competition for Kyle Walker.

Neither City nor Bayern have commented officially on any deal for Cancelo.

The European transfer window closes Tuesday.

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Osaka Wins Again to Reach Quarterfinals at Auckland WTA Tournament

Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a shot against Julia Grabher of Austria in their women's singles match of the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)
Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a shot against Julia Grabher of Austria in their women's singles match of the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)
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Osaka Wins Again to Reach Quarterfinals at Auckland WTA Tournament

Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a shot against Julia Grabher of Austria in their women's singles match of the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)
Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a shot against Julia Grabher of Austria in their women's singles match of the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)

Four-time Grand Slam singles winner Naomi Osaka has started 2025 in style, beating Julia Grabher 7-5, 6-3 Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Auckland tennis classic, The Associated Press reported.
Osaka overcame a swirling breeze and a lengthy rain break to progress comfortably beyond the second round. Although the wind often affected her ball toss, Osaka didn't drop her serve at any stage and broke Grabher once in each set to win her way to the Auckland quarterfinals for the second time. Osaka also reached the last eight on her only previous visit to New Zealand in 2017.
“She was a really tough opponent for me to play against and I felt I just had to concentrate on myself a lot and try not to be as nervous as I felt,” Osaka said.
“I got some great advice from a great coach over there,” Osaka added, referring to Patrick Mouratoglou who recently joined her team and previously had a long association with Serena Williams. “I just tried to focus on my bullet points and go out swinging if I had to go out. But fortunately I'm here to play another round.”
Osaka again showed no sign of the back injury which ended her 2024 season at the China Open in October. She moved freely, went to the net rarely but effectively and hit hard, especially from the forehand side.
Osaka's first serve was a powerful weapon and she won 80% of points when she put the serve in play.
The first set was tight, without a break of serve until the 12th game. Osaka came back from the rain delay which came when she was leading 40-15 in the previous game and seemed to step up, holding serve and breaking the Austrian player immediately to take the first set.
She held serve to love in two of her first three service games in the second set, then broke Grabher in the sixth game to go ahead 4-2. Osaka continued to hold serve comfortably, closing out the match on her first match point.
The Auckland tournament is a tune-up for the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 12, and lost some of its star power on Tuesday when former US Open champion Emma Raducanu withdrew with a back injury. Elise Mertens also pulled out of Auckland with injury.