Cancelo Delivered Immediate Results In Barcelona Colors
Joao Cancelo made an instant impact in Barcelona colors after his arrival in January. Fans and media had doubts about the loan transfer of the Portuguese wingback, but he succeeded in a better performance than Balde in the left-back role, despite the duration of his presence.
The Portuguese Defender Still Wants Barcelona Stay
This loan spell was Cancelo's second one at Barcelona. In the 2023-24 season, Cancelo played for Barcelona as a loanee from Manchester City. Then he moved to Al Hilal for a permanent deal in the next season, but his experience with the team was bitter; it's evident from his statements after the title celebration, ”At Al Hilal, unfortunately, I had people who didn’t tell me the truth. They told me they were going to register me on the Saudi league list, and then, when the day came, they didn’t,” he told reporters.
“And then I’m always the one with the bad personality… But at least I have my word; I don’t change it for anything. I’ve always been the same. I’m direct. I don’t hold grudges against anyone. Today I’m here, I’m very happy, I won a title with Barcelona , which is, for me, the best club in the world.”
The player's intention is to stay with Barcelona; Cancelo has a release clause worth €10 million, which Barca can trigger without any external competition, as Blaugrana is the player's choice.
Cancelo Offers Experience, Creativity And Tactical Flexibility
As per the latest report from Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona are actively looking for a left back in the market to bolster the squad, so Joao Cancelo seems to be one of the best options to fill that role for the short term with his experience and quality. Recent performance of Balde has been disappointing, so Cancelo can provide better competition for Balde to improve depth of squad. Cancelo can play in both right and left back roles, making him a valuable asset under any manager.
A Free Transfer Opportunity Could Change Everything
Signing João Cancelo could prove to be a wise decision for the club moving forward. But the club is still waiting to see if there is any chance of getting João Cancelo for a free transfer after a contract termination from Al Hilal. The relationship between Al Hilal and João Cancelo is already broken, so we can’t rule out the possibility of termination and Barca signing him for free.
