Joao Cancelo and Barça: a real option or a mirage?

FC Barcelona apparently does not rule out, for this summer market, strengthening the right-back position. Especially if they can do it with a top-level player who presents himself as a market opportunity for this summer window. These characteristics seem to 'match' with a specific name: João Cancelo.

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On one hand, there is the Portuguese full-back, who at 31 years of age, and despite having a contract with Al-Hilal until 2027, gives the impression of being open to a change of scenery this summer and could consider a return to football in the Old Continent. On the other hand, there is the Blaugrana team, which has Jules Koundé as the starting right-back, but is looking for a high-level alternative to double the position, exploring different names.

Cancelo maintains his connection with Barcelona

In this sense, it would not be a surprise if João Cancelo could sneak into the agenda of the Barcelona team, a club for which he already had a stint in the 2023/24 season, being a player who did not leave bad memories in the Ciudad Condal. Nor does the player from Barreiro have negative feelings about his adventure in Catalonia.

Joao Cancelo in a FC Barcelona match

Even recently, —after the match against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup, which he is playing with Al-Hilal— Cancelo acknowledged that he still maintains a special connection with Barcelona:

"I'm a fan of Barça, it's normal. I love Barça and I love Barcelona. I love the group I was with at Barça."

Will the Portuguese have a second stage at Can Barça?

A declaration of love that, together with this apparent entry into the market of João Cancelo, makes it not an anomaly that Barcelona can look askance at a possible 'second dance' between both parties. Especially seeing that the Portuguese still retains an interesting level, as he is showing in the Club World Cup with Al-Hilal: he had a good match against Real Madrid (1-1) and another against RB Salzburg.

So, if the '20' of the Riyadh team is able to sustain this regularity in his game, after a 2024/25 season in which he already left some interesting numbers in Saudi Arabian football, his candidacy to return to the European elite does not seem, by any means, a utopia.

An incorporation with which Barcelona could reinforce both sides with a full-back whose main asset is his stellar offensive qualities. But, with the downside that, on occasions, he can have certain defensive lapses.

The biggest obstacle: João Cancelo's salary

Now it only remains to be seen if, whether it is Barcelona or some other European team, they will launch for the signing of João Cancelo, whose exit price, as stated by sources such as SPORT, could be 10 million euros. This being the least of the problems, and the biggest his emoluments, since in Arabia the Portuguese receives an annual gross salary of 15.3 million euros, an amount difficult to fit in right away.

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