Al-Hilal star João Cancelo could be repatriated by his former club.
The Portuguese player intends to return to Europe, despite having a contract with the Saudi club until 2027.
Right-back João Cancelo has expressed his desire to leave Al-Hilal in the next January transfer window, despite having a contract with the Saudi Arabian club until 2027. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Portuguese player intends to return to European football, and Barcelona is among the possible destinations.
According to reports, in addition to Barcelona, other clubs have shown interest in the player. In the last 48 hours, the Catalan club has reportedly sought information about the contractual situation of the full-back, who played for the team in the 2023/24 season on loan from Manchester City. Inter Milan and Juventus are also reportedly evaluating the possibility of signing the player.
Before agreeing to join Al-Hilal, Cancelo tried to stay at Barcelona, but the negotiation fell through because the Spanish club couldn’t make the deal comply with Financial Fair Play rules. Even after the transfer, the player once again demonstrated his identification with the Catalan club in a statement made in May, after a match against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup.
— I’m a Barça fan, that’s normal. I love Barça and I love Barcelona. I love the group I was with at Barça. Now I’m at Al-Hilal and I’m going my own way.
João Cancelo is viewed favorably by Barcelona.
Internally, Cancelo’s name is being considered as an option to strengthen the squad due to his ability to play in more than one position. The club is looking for alternatives in the defensive sector, including the left-back position, where Alejandro Balde plays, and also the right-back position, which could allow for greater squad rotation. Even so, the Portuguese player’s eventual return was not considered a priority before Christensen’s injury.