Joao Cancelo was considered the best choice at right-back in Europe. Joao Cancelo's career highlights his journey and his rise from grassroots to European recognition. In the 2024-25 season, Joao Cancelo left European giants Manchester City and made his move to the Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. In the 2024-25 season, under Jorge Jesus, Joao Cancelo played 39 games while scoring 2 goals and providing 11 assists.
Jorge Jesus implemented a flexible 4-2-3-1 formation at Al Hilal, which transformed into a 2-3-5 in attack with attacking full-backs and midfield support, focusing on positional play, overloading wide areas with cutbacks, using a false 9 to link play, and exploiting transitions with vertical passes. He also utilised a dynamic buildup, involving a midfielder dropping deep to create a back-three and evolve into a 3-1-6 in the progression phase.
Jorge Jesus utilised Joao Cancelo as a dynamic, attacking full-back, using his offensive ability and vision to provide width and creativity from deep positions. Cancelo would operate fluidly, often drifting into central areas or half-spaces to progress play and deliver final passes into the box. Jesus valued Cancelo's attacking talent and ability to see and execute key passes, especially when creating overloads or finding teammates with precise through balls in advanced areas.
Simone Inzaghi's tactics for Al-Hilal focus on a fluid 3-5-2 formation with advanced wing-backs who join the attack, emphasising quick, vertical play with precise long balls to exploit space and advanced runners. While defending, Al-Hilal use an aggressive high press to force errors, supported by intelligent positioning between passing lanes by players like Leonardo and Malcolm. However, they also show tactical maturity by being able to drop into a deeper defensive block to conserve energy and limit opposition options.
Simone Inzaghi has implemented Portuguese star Joao Cancelo primarily as a deep-sitting wing-back within Al Hilal's 5-4-1 formation, emphasising defensive stability and providing options for counter-attacks alongside building from the back. While Cancelo's attacking freedom is a key element of his game, Inzaghi's tactical approach at Al Hilal has leaned towards a more pragmatic, compact, and defensively sound setup, which is a notable shift from the free-flowing attacking style he was accustomed to under other managers.
Joao Cancelo would be a perfect fit under Inzaghi, as his tactical system at Al Hilal, the 3-5-2 formation, requires wing-backs like Cancelo to provide width and attacking crosses from a natural right wing-back role, a role that perfectly matches Cancelo's abilities. While Jesus also used attacking full-backs, the 3-5-2 with Inzaghi allows Cancelo to bloom in a role. In terms of love life, Joao Cancelo has a long-term relationship with Daniela Machado.
How Old is Daniela Machado?
Joao Cancelo partner is Danielo Machado, and based on available information, she was born in 1993, which makes her, as of now, 32 years old. She is and renowned model and an Instagram influencer, and without her profession, she is renowned as the long-term partner of Joao Cancelo. The couple has been in a relationship since 2011 and got engaged in 2021.
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What does Joao Cancelo girlfriend do for a living?
Joao Cancelo girlfriend is a renowned Portuguese model and an Instagram influencer. Without her professional career, she has been in a long-term relationship with Joao Cancelo, and she is also the mother of two children. She has a very active social media life, often shares posts of her family with the Portuguese right back, and with her baby girl. The couple was expecting another child, which they also shared through social media.
Joao Cancelo and Daniela Machado Relationship Timeline
Joao Cancelo and Daniela Machado's relationship is going very strong. They are childhood sweethearts who started dating in 2011. In 2019, they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Alicia. Their relationship reached another milestone in 2021 when Joao proposed to Daniela while they were on vacation in the Maldives. They had their second child, a daughter named Camila, in June 2024. Throughout Cancelo's career moves to different countries, Daniela has always been by his side.
Joao Cancelo Children
Joao Cancelo has two children with his partner, Daniela Machado. Their first child, a daughter named Alicia, was born in December 2019. They welcomed their second child, a daughter named Camila, in June 2024.
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Daniela Machado Social Media Presence
Daniela Machado, the partner of Joao Cancelo, has a strong social media presence as a model and influencer. She is known to use platforms like Instagram to share news about her personal life, including her engagement to Cancelo and the birth of their children. Her public profile on these platforms is a significant part of her social media presence.
Platform
Handle
Instagram
@danielalexmachado
Interesting Facts about Daniela Machado
Daniela Machado, Joao Cancelo's partner, is a Portuguese model and Instagram influencer.
She and Cancelo are childhood sweethearts and have been together since 2011.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Joao Cancelo Girlfriend?
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In terms of love life, Joao Cancelo has a long-term relationship with Daniela Machado.
How old is Daniela Machado?
+
Joao Cancelo partner is Danielo Machado, and based on available information, she was born in 1993, which makes her, as of now, 32 years old.
What is Daniela Machado’s Profession?
+
Joao Cancelo girlfriend is a renowned Portuguese model and an Instagram influencer. Without her professional career, she has been in a long-term relationship with Joao Cancelo, and she is also the mother of two children.
Is Daniela Machado active on Social media?
+
Daniela Machado, the partner of Joao Cancelo, has a social media presence as a model and influencer. She is known to use platforms like Instagram to share news about her personal life, including her engagement to Cancelo and the birth of their children.
When did Joao Cancelo and Daniela Machado get married?
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Daniela Machado and Joao Cancelo are not yet married; however, they are engaged and have two babies.
Do Joao Cancelo and Daniela Machado have children?
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Joao Cancelo has two children with his partner, Daniela Machado. Their first child, a daughter named Alicia, was born in December 2019. They welcomed their second child, a daughter named Camila, in June 2024.
In terms of love life, Joao Cancelo has a long-term relationship with Daniela Machado.
How old is Daniela Machado?
+
Joao Cancelo partner is Danielo Machado, and based on available information, she was born in 1993, which makes her, as of now, 32 years old.
What is Daniela Machado’s Profession?
+
Joao Cancelo girlfriend is a renowned Portuguese model and an Instagram influencer. Without her professional career, she has been in a long-term relationship with Joao Cancelo, and she is also the mother of two children.
Is Daniela Machado active on Social media?
+
Daniela Machado, the partner of Joao Cancelo, has a social media presence as a model and influencer. She is known to use platforms like Instagram to share news about her personal life, including her engagement to Cancelo and the birth of their children.
When did Joao Cancelo and Daniela Machado get married?
+
Daniela Machado and Joao Cancelo are not yet married; however, they are engaged and have two babies.
Do Joao Cancelo and Daniela Machado have children?
+
Joao Cancelo has two children with his partner, Daniela Machado. Their first child, a daughter named Alicia, was born in December 2019. They welcomed their second child, a daughter named Camila, in June 2024.