Joao Cancelo: “I always want to play with Barca shirt”

Joao Cancelo says he is willing to play anywhere that Barcelona coach Xavi wants him to as he outlined his ambition since joining the club on loan.

The Portuguese full-back made the temporary switch from Manchester City in the summer transfer window and has spoken of his desire to “achieve great things” at the his “dream club”.

“The coach gives me a little freedom and I like that. I feel comfortable playing inside but also out wide. I will adapt to everything he asks of me,” he told Sport.

He added: “I always want to play with the Barca shirt and show the fans and the people who believed in me how difficult it was to get to Barca. I want to achieve great things with this club because it’s where I’ve always dreamed of being. It’s a dream club, all my friends know it, all my idols played for Barca.”

Cancelo lost his place in the City squad last season after a reported falling out with coach Pep Guardiola. Barcelona tried to take him on loan in January, but Xavi revealed that their attempts were blocked by City. He was loaned to Bayern Munich instead, but the German giants opted against triggering an option to buy him on a permanent basis as he fell out of favour at the club.