🔁 The Comeback: Cancelo to Barça?
Booming reports indicate that Barcelona are actively pursuing a permanent return for João Cancelo from Al‑Hilal. According to Marca (via IndeksOnline), the Saudi club have set a release price of around €15 million, a figure that seems attainable given Barça’s improved finances .
🧠 Why Barça Wants Him Back
- Cancelo impressed during his 2023–24 Barça loan: 42 appearances, 4 goals, and 11 assists in all competitions .
- Sporting director Deco and coach Hansi Flick reportedly see him as an ideal experienced squad player and rotation option at full-back (pulsesports.ng).
💬 Player & Club Signals
- Cancelo has openly expressed his love for Barca:
“I really like being at Barça… my family… we hope that next year we will be here!” (wionews.com)
- Al‑Hilal seem open to a deal at €15m, allowing Cancelo to return to Europe (madrid-barcelona.com).
⚠️ Hurdles to Overcome
- Barça must comply with La Liga’s financial fair play (1:1 rule). Cancelo will likely need to take a pay cut, and Barça may need to offload other high-wage players first .
- Squad depth: Cancelo would compete with Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde, so Barça’s focus may still be on flexibility and rotation depth (pulsesports.ng).
🔮 Verdict
- Status: Negotiations are active.
- Price: ~€15 million.
- Fit: Valuable, experienced backup at both full-back positions.
- Reality check: Requires financial and squad planning to fit.
If all goes to plan, Cancelo could be back in blaugrana next season as a smart, strategic addition by Deco and Flick.
