On the Verge of a Signing
©IMAGO
Portuguese defender João Cancelo appears ready to return to European football this month, with two prominent clubs vying for the 31-year-old’s services. Reports from Italy suggest that the Al-Hilal star initially reached an agreement with Serie A club Inter for a six-month loan. However, according to Fabrizio Romano, LaLiga side Barcelona has now entered the fray, capturing the player’s interest. Barcelona is set to pay a loan fee of €4 million while covering part of Cancelo’s wages.
Cancelo’s decision is not surprising, considering his prior experience with both Inter and Barcelona earlier in his career. Before his €65 million transfer to Manchester City in 2019, he spent a season on loan at Inter, which attracted Juventus’ attention and led to his €40.4 million signing from Valencia in the summer of 2018. Subsequently, Cancelo had a loan stint at Barcelona during the 2023/24 season before his recent move to Al-Hilal for €25 million.
The seasoned defender may feel a sense of unfinished business in Catalonia, having left Barcelona without any trophies. During his previous tenure, he and his teammates finished second to Real Madrid in the league and were eliminated in the quarter-finals of both the Champions League and Copa Del Rey. In stark contrast, Barcelona currently holds a four-point lead at the top of LaLiga this season and remains competitive in all cup tournaments.
