Joao Cancelo, the Portuguese defender, has been making headlines recently with his desire to return to Barcelona. The 29-year-old, who was once a Manchester City player, has been vocal about his wish to play for the Blaugrana again. But will he finally get his wish?
Cancelo’s journey to Barcelona was not an easy one. He was sold to Al Hilal in the summer for a whopping €25 million, after Manchester City decided to offload him. However, even before that, Cancelo had made it clear that he was not interested in playing for the Citizens anymore. He had a public fallout with Pep Guardiola, and his performances on the pitch suffered as a result.
Despite his troubled past with Manchester City, Cancelo found solace in Bayern Munich, where he was sent on a six-month loan in January 2023. He impressed the Bavarians with his performances, earning himself a 42-game stint, with four goals and five assists to his name.
However, when Cancelo returned to Manchester City, he made it clear that he was not interested in staying. He refused to train with the team and made it known that he wanted to join Barcelona on a permanent basis. But why did the move not materialize?
The answer lies in Barcelona’s financial struggles. The Catalan giants were unable to cough up the necessary funds to sign Cancelo, and they also had issues with registering new players. The club’s financial woes are well-documented, and it seemed that Cancelo’s dream of playing for Barcelona was all but over.
But now, it seems that Cancelo’s desire to return to Barcelona has not diminished. According to Spanish publication Sport, the Portuguese defender is unhappy in Al Hilal and would jump at the chance to return to Camp Nou. The report also suggests that Barcelona are interested in bringing Cancelo back, as he would bring quality and experience to the team.
The possibility of Cancelo returning to Barcelona is an intriguing one. With Jules Koundealready established in the right-back position, Cancelo could provide competition for the French defender or even allow him to move into the center-back role. However, the question remains: can Barcelona afford to sign Cancelo?
Deco, Barcelona’s sporting director, is said to be a fan of Cancelo, but the club’s financial struggles mean that a winter transfer may be impossible. According to Transfermarkt, Barcelona’s net spend in the summer was a staggering €153 million, and the club is still reeling from the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For now, Cancelo will have to continue playing for Al Hilal, where he has already made 19 appearances, scoring one goal and providing eight assists. But the Portuguese defender’s heart remains in Barcelona, and only time will tell if he will finally get his wish to return to Camp Nou.
As the January transfer window approaches, all eyes will be on Barcelona to see if they can finally secure the services of Joao Cancelo. Will the Catalan giants be able to overcome their financial struggles and bring the Portuguese defender back to where he belongs? Only time will tell.
