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Insane Compilation Shows Joao Cancelo 'Plays Football Like FIFA Street'

Insane Compilation Shows Joao Cancelo 'Plays Football Like FIFA Street'

Joao Cancelo has been incredible for Manchester City this season.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

A new compilation of Joao Cancelo's best bits this season show the Portugal international is really out playing football like it's real FIFA street.

The former Juventus man initially struggled upon his big money move to the Etihad Stadium but has now become a vital weapon for Pep Guardiola's table-toppers.

Cancelo has been playing on both the left and right side of City's defence but has been anything but a conventional full-back.

A masterstroke of a tactical tweak from Guardiola has seen Cancelo coming inside and basically playing as a central midfielder who has licence to attack.

Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabian Delph and Kyle Walker have all played a different type of role and been encouraged to get involved in the build-up play under Guardiola at City but it's Cancelo who has excelled the most as a "false full-back" - playing as a defender, midfielder and winger at the same time.

Although excellent at marshalling marauding wingers like Wolves' Adama Traore in 1v1 situations, it's his skill, vision and playmaking that has really caught the eye.

Image: PA
Image: PA

The way he jinks past players like they aren't there and supplies Kevin De Bruyne levels of key passes with either foot is wonderful.

With 2338 minutes under his belt in all competitions, Cancelo has grown into one of City's most important players in their push for what looks set to be a third Premier League title in four seasons.

Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has loved the Cancelo experiment this season and waxed lyrical over him after seeing the former Benfica man shine against Borussia Monchengladbach last month.

"He's playing as a full-back but it's not the conventional full-back," he said on BT Sport.

"He ends up coming into the centre of the pitch.

"His position once they get good possession is inside the pitch, almost as a pivot. When they have the ball it's three at the back with two boys in front of them and he's one of the boys.

"He's even into the No 10 position at times and he becomes like a playmaker - it's crazy to see. And this is all obviously Pep [Guardiola] and him seeing the game a different way."

Featured Image Credit: CITYComps

Topics: Manchester City, Football, Joao Cancelo