From Spain: Barcelona handed transfer lifeline after Manchester City defender ‘refuses’ alternative exit option

Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo could return to Barcelona next season after a sensational transfer u-turn.

The 30-year-old, who made four appearances for Portugal during the recent European Championship, is facing the prospect of completing a third successive temporary move away from the Etihad Stadium following loan spells in Germany and Spain.

Cancelo is contracted at Manchester City until 2027 but hasn’t featured for Pep Guardiola’s side since a 2-1 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford in January 2023, after a dramatic training ground bust-up at the City Football Academy.

The defender moved to Bayern Munich for the remainder of the 2022/23 season prior to signing for Barcelona on a season-long loan for the previous campaign, where Cancelo made 42 appearances and was directly involved in nine goals.

The Portuguese international featured across two competitions for Barcelona, making 32 La Liga appearances and 10 showings in the UEFA Champions League under the management of Xavi.

Hansi Flick has been appointed as Barcelona manager for the new season, with the growing potential for the 59-year-old to recruit Cancelo for the upcoming campaign, despite Barcelona having previously announced the departure of the 30-year-old on social media.

Sport Witness relay claims from outlet Sport, reporting that Manchester City and Barcelona have been forced back to the negotiating table, after Cancelo ‘refused’ alternative offers from the Italian top-flight and elsewhere globally.

The two clubs are claimed to have been ‘condemned’ to broker a new deal for the full-back, with talks ‘accelerating’ despite Manchester City’s initial ambition of permanently selling the Portugal international this summer.

It is further claimed that Cancelo ‘will almost certainly’ be a Barcelona player next season, although Etihad executives are set to request a mandatory purchase clause is included within the new agreement.

Manchester City are additionally facing a similar dilemma regarding the future of midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who is expected to leave east Manchester on either a temporary or permanent basis this summer.