Portugal full-back Joao Cancelo is not yet certain of where he will be playing his football next season, although it is clear Manchester City do not want to have him back, and vice versa. However the prohibitively high cost of the deal is narrowing his options.
Barcelona are interested in having him back at the club next season, but only on a loan that suits their finances, and that is the player’s desire too. City are keen not to loan him out again this summer though, at 30 years of age their chances of making money on him are only getting smaller, and they are hoping to bring in €20-30m for him.
Their hope is that Saudi Arabian sides Al-Ahli and Al-Ettifaq will be able to convince him to sign for them with a major salary offer. Gianluca di Marzio has also reported that Inter have considered trying to bring Cancelo back, after Tajon Buchanon underwent surgery after suffering a tibia fracture at Copa America in Canada training.
Javier Tebas (La Liga President): "This year is the easiest for Barcelona in recent years. They know what to do to bring in new players and understand financial fair play well. As they come out of their economic troubles, we'll see if they can resolve a few remaining issues to…
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 4, 2024
He is expected to be out for around four months, and from the club they have already ruled out moves for Marcos Alonso or Albert Gudmundsson as a replacement. Yet for Inter too, the cost is prohibitive. The idea was floated in Milan, but Cancelo’s €10m salary means that the Nerazzurri have more or less ruled out even a loan move, unless City drop their demands.
For Barcelona, it will likely be a slow and steady wins the race approach. They will have to rely on Cancelo refusing all other options in order to force a loan move, and they will probably wait until the end of the transfer market to increase the pressure on the Premier League champions.
