Manchester City are reportedly now in talks with Barcelona over Joao Cancelo – and it is suggested the clubs are working to find a solution as soon as possible.
The full-back spent last season on loan at the Spanish giants, after failing to reintegrate back into the City squad.
Pep Guardiola used him in pre-season, but not for competitive games. He then joined Barca on loan, and was a prominent player for them as they finished second in La Liga in 2023/24.
Joao Cancelo wants to return to Barca and preferably make his move permanent.
But the issue is Barca’s financial situation.
The clubs are now talking, and there is hope that something can be sorted before much longer.
Manchester City and Barcelona in Joao Cancelo talks, solution wanted ‘soon’
It has been reported by Mundo Deportivo that Manchester City and Barcelona are now in talks over Cancelo.
The Portugal international’s situation has not really changed. While Pep is the manager back at City, Cancelo has no future.
The pair reportedly fell out after the player gave a poor reaction to his lack of game time for City. He was then loaned to Bayern Munich for the second half of the 2022/23 season.
Mundo say that City and Barca have ‘agreed’ to find a solution to the situation soon. A meeting was had recently, and City officials conveyed to Jorge Mendes their willingness to reach an understanding.
Recently, Pep said of Cancelo (via Mirror): “It has to be the best for everyone. The two clubs will sit down. He is our player and, if an agreement is not reached, he will have to return in the pre-season. If he wants to stay here [at Barcelona], and the clubs agree, it will be done again.”
Joan Laporta, Barca’s president, reiterated his desire to re-sign Cancelo last week.
Cancelo needs selling, but it’s not that simple
Cancelo is clearly keen to join Barcelona again and Laporta also wants him back, as does new manager Hansi Flick.
City would also be keen for him to go, but it’s just about whether a deal can be done that suits all parties. In an ideal world, Cancelo would be sold permanently.
But Champions League giants Barcelona are his preference and they don’t have the financial capability to pay his true worth.
So City are in a tricky spot. Because seemingly, there is zero chance of the £250,000-a-week Cancelo being used in competitive games by Pep, so he cannot be kept around.
Loaning him out again wouldn’t be that helpful, although at least his wages would be temporarily off the books.
Hopefully a resolution is reached soon but with Euro 2024 about to commence, it would be no surprise if this was still an ongoing situation in a month’s time.