Yahoo Sports Former Barcelona loanee seeking potential return to the club
Former Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo harbours a strong desire to return to the Catalan club, claims a report from Luis Miguelsanz in SPORT.
Cancelo’s commitment to wearing the Blaugrana shirt was evident during the summer transfer window, where he went to great lengths to secure a move to Barça.
Unfortunately, financial constraints and resistance from Manchester City, his parent club, made the transfer unattainable.
Cancelo waited until the final stages of the transfer window, but Barça’s limited salary cap and City’s unwillingness to agree to another loan deal left no room for negotiation.
Ultimately, the Portuguese full-back transferred to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia for €20 million. Despite becoming a key player for his new club, Cancelo continues to think about a potential return to Barcelona.
Cancelo feels at home at Barcelona
The defender felt very comfortable living in Barcelona with his family and was eager to remain part of the team.
During his loan spell, he became a regular starter and Barcelona pushed for his arrival. While Cancelo showcased his offensive talents, his form dipped later in the season, leading to criticism.
Barça’s sporting project under Deco and Hansi Flick originally had Cancelo in mind. However, Manchester City’s stance and Barcelona’s financial challenges forced them to pivot.
Even registering new signings like Dani Olmo was a struggle, leaving little flexibility to consider Cancelo’s return.
He still thinks of Barcelona
While Cancelo has doubled his salary in Saudi Arabia, he remains open to making sacrifices to return to Barcelona, recognising it as the ideal environment to reach his full potential.
However, Barça seem focused on finding younger right-back options who can develop within the club’s system.
Deco’s vision includes strengthening both full-back positions, potentially easing Jules Koundé’s workload and allowing him to focus on central defensive duties.
For now, his dream of returning to the team remains distant, but his passion for the Blaugrana colours underlines his deep connection with the club.
