Barcelona is aiming to finalize several deals to assemble the strongest possible squad in order to reclaim their position on the global and European stages. One of their top priorities is strengthening the right-back position, which would allow Kounde to revert to his natural central defender role.
According to the Catalan newspaper Sport, Portuguese international Joao Cancelo is keen on returning to Europe after completing his time with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. Cancelo, who joined Al-Hilal last summer from Manchester City for €25 million, has a contract with the Saudi club until June 2027.
The report suggests that Cancelo hopes to return to Europe via Barcelona after his spell with Al-Hilal. He had previously spent a season on loan at Barcelona from Manchester City, but high wages had kept him from joining the club permanently. In a past statement, Cancelo revealed that although Pepe wanted him at Real Madrid, he was always clear about his desire to play for Barcelona, as he is a fan of the club.
At 30 years old, Cancelo believes he still has what it takes to play at the top level in Europe, particularly with Barcelona, following his impressive performances with both Al-Hilal and the Portuguese national team.
