“It wasn’t my decision to leave Manchester City. I tried to reconcile with the staff, but I was forced out of the club,” revealed former Manchester City defender João Cancelo, who has exposed those responsible for his departure.

Al Hilal is nearing the signing of João Cancelo from Manchester City, according to ESPN sources.

The Portuguese defender has agreed to join the Saudi Pro League for an initial fee of £21 million ($28 million) and is close to finalizing a deal worth around £15 million per year.

Cancelo, who hasn’t featured for City in 18 months after loan spells at Bayern Munich and Barcelona, returned to Manchester for training this summer but was excluded from the squad for the first two Premier League games against Chelsea and Ipswich.

He leaves City having made over 150 appearances, winning the Premier League three times, and being named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in 2021 and 2022.

Cancelo last played for City in January 2023 before being unexpectedly loaned to Bayern Munich. After Bayern decided not to make the deal permanent, he was loaned to Barcelona for the 2023-24 season.