João Cancelo, the talented Portuguese defender, is poised to bid farewell to Manchester City permanently and embark on a new chapter with Barcelona this summer.
His journey has been marked by twists and turns. In January 2023, Cancelo parted ways with Manchester City following a dispute with manager Pep Guardiola over playing time. The English club loaned him out to Bayern Munich for the remainder of the season, but despite his efforts, a permanent deal eluded him.
Upon his return to City during the summer transfer window, it became evident that he no longer featured in Pep’s strategic plans for the upcoming season. His appearances were limited to preseason friendlies. However, fate intervened, and on the final day of the transfer window, Cancelo found himself donning the colors of Barcelona on loan.
Spain has been a welcoming stage for Cancelo. As a key player for the Catalan club, he has graced the field in 30 matches across all competitions, netting four goals and providing three crucial assists. Now, the talented defender has expressed his desire to extend his stay at Barcelona beyond this season, hoping that the two clubs can come to a mutually beneficial agreement.
The talented Portuguese defender has become the center of attention as Barcelona contemplates securing him on a permanent basis. Both the club’s sporting director, Deco, and its president, Joan Laporta, have publicly expressed their desire to retain the player’s services.
Despite media speculation that he was reluctant to return to Manchester City, Cancelo remained tight-lipped until recently. However, during the screening of Ronald Araujo’s documentary, a reporter posed a crucial question: Would he like to stay at Barcelona for the upcoming season? Without hesitation, Cancelo responded with a resounding “Si, si” (Yes, yes), as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
The Etihad seems an unlikely destination for Cancelo’s future endeavors, given the irreparable rift between him and City manager Pep Guardiola. Had reconciliation been possible, he would likely have been reintegrated into the team before the current season.
Now, the decisive factor lies in Barcelona’s financial capacity. Can they afford to secure Cancelo’s talents on a permanent contract? The answer awaits as negotiations unfold.