In the past few seasons, due to the club’s precarious financial situation, FC Barcelona have been forced to resort to either free agents or loan transfers to bolster the squad. One such player who had a stint here was Joao Cancelo.
The versatile Portuguese full-back spent a year on loan at Barcelona from Manchester City under Xavi Hernández and had his moments. He showcased his quality on more than one occasion, but, with the club unable to sign him permanently at the end of the season, Manchester City sold him to Al Hilal.
Since moving to the Saudi Pro League, Cancelo has continued to impress with his attacking quality, and at 31, he still has a few years left in him. According to Fichajes, sporting director Deco is keen on bringing the Portuguese international back to the Camp Nou.
Barcelona’s full-back areas on both sides could do with bolstering, at least in terms of quality, and signing Cancelo would address both issues at once. The 31-year-old is equally comfortable playing on either flank.
Cancelo is very good at both overlapping and inverting, and has an excellent passing range. Pep Guardiola loved to use him in a variety of roles, especially from the left, until the duo fell out and Cancelo decided to move on.
A move back to Barcelona would have to come under the right financial circumstances. Cancelo would almost certainly have to take a pay cut and agree on a salary within the Catalan club’s financial landscape, and we will have to wait and see how things play out.
