Verbal Agreement for João Cancelo Between Al-Hilal and Barcelona
Reports indicate that Al-Hilal and Barcelona, through the intervention of João Cancelo, have reached a verbal agreement for his loan transfer.
João Cancelo on the verge of joining Barcelona
The 31-year-old Portuguese full-back is set to join the Catalan club after reaching a verbal agreement with the player and Al-Hilal on a loan deal. João Cancelo played a key role in the negotiations to secure his loan move to Barcelona, despite strong pressure from Inter Milan.
The Blaugranas would welcome João Cancelo, the full-back Flick was looking for to replace Christian Andersen, who is out with a long-term injury. Although Hansi Flick was looking for a left-footed full-back, after scouring the transfer market and failing to find anyone who met his sporting and financial expectations, he confirmed his desire to sign Cancelo. After Flick requested a defensive reinforcement during this winter transfer window, it would appear that the arrival of the Portuguese full-back would give him more flexibility and options for the rest of the season. It should be noted that Barça is no stranger to Cancelo, as he previously played for the club.
When would Cancelo arrive in Barcelona?
If his loan deal with FC Barcelona is made official, Cancelo would not be available immediately, especially for tomorrow's Spanish Super Cup semifinal match against Athletic Bilbao. This significantly limits the defensive options available to Barça and Hansi Flick for this crucial match to reach the Super Cup final.
João Cancelo and his previous stay at Barcelona
Cancelo's journey in Catalonia would not begin in 2026 if the loan is confirmed. His path at Barcelona began in 2023, when the former Valencia player arrived on loan from Manchester City and scored four goals and provided five assists in 42 games.
