Guardiola will be 'happy to see' Cancelo

Pep Guardiola says he will be "happy to see" former Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo when his side face Al Hilal in the Club World Cup.

The Premier League side face the Saudi Pro League outfit in in the last-16 of the competition on Tuesday (kick-off 02:00 BST) at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

Portugal international Cancelo won three Premier League titles and the FA Cup with City, but after the 2022 World Cup, he lost his place in the side to Rico Lewis and Nathan Ake.

The 31-year-old was loaned out to Bayern Munich in the second half of the 2022-23 season and said in March he "deserved to play" but Guardiola felt "he didn't".

Speaking in the pre-match news conference in the United States, Guardiola said: "All the players who have been with us I have incredible memories of. Listen, I have an incredible respect for Joao, for everyone.

"It's always when you have to take a decision, it's not always easy. I know he had an incredible heart but he was just upset he didn't play, because he loves to play. In a training session, he just played. I said, 'OK the training is over'. He said, 'No, no, one more, one more'.

"Joao was the best full-back in the year when we won the quadruple. He was the best in Europe, the best in the Premier League. So he's exceptional.

"He can play right or left, use both legs without a problem. I'm happy to see him tomorrow."