Hans Dieter Flick finally received his Christmas present. With a few days delay, the German technician will be able to count on the defender he has been asking for from Deco for several weeks. Initially, the FC Barcelona coach had asked his sporting director for a left-handed central defender. But when exploring the transfer market, the two men did not find what they were looking for. Indeed, the targeted players did not correspond to the financial and sometimes even sporting requirements of the culé club.
In consultation, Deco and Flick therefore decided to move towards another profile by recruiting João Cancelo. A versatile element, capable of playing both right side and left side. The Portuguese can also play in midfield or on a wing if necessary. In addition, he knows the Blaugrana house perfectly since he played at the club during the 2023-24 season. At that time, he was on loan from Manchester City. Under Xavi’s orders, he participated in 42 matches in all competitions, including 41 as a starter (4 goals and 5 assists).
A return home
Despite his desire to continue the adventure in Catalonia, he returned to Manchester at the end of his loan. Very quickly, it was sold to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. A year and a half later, João Cancelo wanted a change of scenery. Courted by Inter Milan, who were very close to bringing him back and who had reached a verbal agreement with Al-Hilal, he delayed and gave his preference to FC Barcelona, who completed the deal. The Camp Nou residents made his big return official today through an official press release.
“It’s now official: João Cancelo is back at Barça. FC Barcelona and Al Hilal Saudi FC have reached an agreement for the loan of the Portuguese full-back until the end of the season. He will wear number 2.have just indicated the Blaugrana. A true Swiss army knife, Cancelo (31 years old) is leaving for a new adventure at FCB. This time, he will learn the Hansi Fick method.
