Mum’s still the word for Cancelo

JOAO CANCELO has revealed his late mum is with him on the pitch in every game after being handed the No.7 shirt at Manchester City.

Cancelo (left) was a teenager going through the ranks at Benfica when mum Filomena lost her life when she was killed in a motorway collision in January 2013.

She had just dropped off her husband Joseph at Lisbon Airport and was driving back home with

Joao and his brother Pedro asleep on the back seat.

The two boys suffered minor injuries but their mum was killed.

And although he’s not planning to turn into England attacker Sterling, Cancelo says the shirt means plenty. “It was my late mum’s favourite number and it was the day she was born: February 7”, he says. “So I decided to pick that number as it is meaningful for me and for mum. “I hope I can represent her with this number as she is one of the most important people in my life.

“I know it’s a number that comes with a lot of responsibility for what Sterling has done.”

Cancelo almost gave up on his ambition to be a footballer when his mother died.

He was gradually coaxed back to the game by his father – but he says a prayer to his mum every time he steps onto the pitch.

Cancelo, 28, added: “I always try to give my best for the team.