Joao Cancelo proved he still has plenty of respect for Manchester City, despite the fans that once cheered him opting to greet his return with loud jeers.
City sanctioned Cancelo's switch to Bayern on deadline day after the defender fell out with Pep Guardiola. And the 28-year-old made sure not to step on his parent club's badge as he walked through the Etihad tunnel ahead of the first leg of Bayern's Champions League quarter-final clash against City.
Luis Suarez, Rodrigo de Paul and Angel Correa all did the same thing as a show of respect when Atletico Madrid faced City in last year's tournament.
Cancelo made an appearance off the bench against City as UEFA do not prevent loan players from facing their parent club and he opened up about his departure ahead of the match in an in-house interview with Bayern. "I saw the move as an opportunity to play for a big club like FC Bayern," he said.
"I like new challenges. I want to prove to the people and myself that I can adjust to new situations, regardless of the league or the club. Ultimately, I want to show that against all odds and challenges, I can always come back and get stronger.
"Bayern is a club that considers discipline very important; the staff at FC Bayern are very professional - and I can identify with these principles. I am a very competitive player, and I don't like losing.
"Never give up - that sums up who I am. Discipline as well, as I am a professional and hardworking footballer with a strong personality." City defender Ruben Dias, meanwhile, admitted it would be weird facing Cancelo instead of lining up alongside him.
"I must confess it will be strange," he said. "Not very long ago we were fighting together, but it is what it is. It's football, it's the life we lead. Decisions have been made and it is football
"We built a close relationship, especially me, him and Bernardo Silva. We're always in touch and in contact, but when the game starts, each one of us will be on his own side."
But despite his strong relationships with plenty in the home dressing room, those in the stands made their feelings perfectly clear. Cancelo's introduction was 'greeted' with vociferous boos, with the jeering continue every time he touched the ball during a disappointing cameo.
His introduction came after a second-half blitz all but ensured City will progress to the semi-finals. Goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland earned the Premier League champions a 3-0 win to put them in a commanding position in the tie.
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