Joao Cancelo Pushes for Barcelona Return as Inter and Al Hilal Reach Deal
Joao Cancelo’s next move in football is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing stories of this January transfer window. The Portuguese right-back, who has spent the past 18 months playing for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, finds himself at a crossroads. While a deal with Inter Milan has reportedly already been agreed upon in the background, Cancelo is doing something quite unusual—he’s asking for more time to see if a move back to Barcelona can happen.
Sources suggest that Cancelo has requested a short grace period, maybe a day or two, to give Barcelona the opportunity to reconsider signing him. It’s clear where his priorities lie: a return to Catalonia, where he spent a season on loan back in 2023–24 after leaving Manchester City. Despite his desire, Barcelona’s situation is complicated. Financial constraints and other club priorities mean that any move would be difficult, particularly when considering Cancelo’s salary.
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Meanwhile, Inter Milan have reportedly already negotiated terms with Al Hilal, and the deal for Cancelo’s transfer could be finalized soon. The Italian side are ready to welcome him back to Serie A, and for Cancelo, moving to a competitive European league is important, especially with the World Cup approaching. He is keen to be playing top-flight football to maintain his spot in the Portuguese national team.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has publicly acknowledged the club’s need for additional defensive cover during the January window. However, he has also emphasized that any signing has to “make sense” for the team. Cancelo, who primarily plays as a fullback but can operate on either side of the pitch, is not a direct replacement for injured center-back Andreas Christensen. Bringing him in would require some reshuffling—potentially moving Jules Koundé into central defense or solidifying Gerard MartÃn’s role there. It’s a solution that could work, but it’s not as straightforward as signing a specialist center-back.
Reports indicate that Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has considered Cancelo as one of the options for strengthening the squad, particularly with Christensen sidelined. Yet, at the moment, a deal remains uncertain. Cancelo’s patience seems to be paying off, at least temporarily, as he waits to see if Barcelona can meet his return ambitions before committing to Inter Milan.
In short, Joao Cancelo’s next chapter is hanging in the balance. Inter Milan appear ready to move quickly, but the 31-year-old defender is giving Barcelona one last chance. Whether the Catalan giants act in time remains to be seen, but for now, Cancelo is keeping his hopes alive, determined to return to a club he clearly loves, even if it means delaying a guaranteed transfer.
The January window is still open, and all eyes will be on Barcelona and Cancelo in the coming days. His decision could reshape not just his career, but the defensive dynamics of whichever club he ends up joining.
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