Joao Cancelo still has FC Barcelona on his mind. The Portuguese full-back, who currently plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, has never hidden his dream of wearing the blaugrana jersey again. During his loan spell at Camp Nou he left a good impression, and his ability to play on both flanks made him a highly valued piece by the coaching staff at the time.
Although he has found stability and prominence in Saudi Arabia, Cancelo has always kept hope alive of returning to the European elite and, in particular, to Barça. Rumors about his future have intensified in recent days, making him once again a target to strengthen the defense for next season. This is even more relevant considering that one of the most important tasks for the sporting management is to strengthen the full-back position.
Cancelo sets conditions
Cancelo's possible return to Camp Nou is conditioned by a deal involving Héctor Fort. The young full-back is on Valencia's radar, and they would be willing to pay €7 million (7 million euros) to secure his services. This sale would be a decisive step for Barça to be able to pursue the arrival of the Portuguese international.
Additionally, the Catalan club believes that Cancelo's asking price would be much more affordable than previously desired. According to recent reports, Al-Hilal could accept an offer of around €15 million (15 million euros). This figure makes the deal feasible within Barça's financial limitations.
Regarding salary, Cancelo will earn around €4.5 million (4.5 million euros) gross per season. This is an amount that fits within the club's financial capabilities, especially considering his career and level of play. The contract will also include incentives tied to individual performance and team achievements.
Flick sees it favorably
Hansi Flick believes that strengthening the full-back positions is a priority. Joao Cancelo's versatility fits with the German's vision and his coaching staff, who are looking for profiles capable of contributing both defensively and in building from the back. His arrival would allow both flanks to be covered and offer quality alternatives to Koundé and Balde, who are currently the undisputed starters.
Barça is also aware that bringing in Cancelo would strengthen one of the squad's weakest areas in recent years. For this reason, internal discussions indicate that if Héctor Fort's departure is finalized, the deal for the Portuguese full-back could accelerate quickly.
Meanwhile, Cancelo remains very alert to the progress of the negotiations. Although he has a contract with Al-Hilal, he has never hidden that his desire is to return to European soccer and, especially, to Camp Nou. The option of returning to Barcelona would be, for him, an ideal step to keep competing at the highest level.