Why Barcelona may hit roadblock in bid to re-sign Joao Cancelo

Barcelona have been dealt a blow in their hopes of keeping Joao Cancelo on loan for another year as Manchester City could sell him instead, according to a report.

Cancelo signed for Barca on loan from City on the deadline day of the summer 2023 transfer window, joining at the same time and on a similar deal to Portugal teammate Joao Felix.

While reports in Spain claim Barcelona are hopeful of reaching an agreement with Atletico Madrid to keep Felix on another season-long loan before signing him permanently, there is less optimism of thrashing out such a deal with City for Cancelo.

SPORT write that City are determined to sell Cancelo this summer having tried their best to get him off their books for good last year. The full-back’s determination to join Barcelona ultimately scuppered City’s plans but they will not be held to ransom again.

Cancelo is valued at around €40m, which is out of Barcelona’s reach given their priorities on an already tight budget are to sign a midfielder and left-footed winger.

While Barcelona will be unable to stump up this sum, there is interest in Cancelo from other Premier League clubs – he was linked with Arsenal last summer – as well as from Saudi Arabia.

Barcelona’s last remaining hope is that Cancelo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, can convince City of a loan-to-buy formula the way he did with Atletico for his other client, Felix. However, it seems more likely that Cancelo will be subject to lucrative offers from elsewhere.

Cancelo has not played for City since January 2023 after falling out with manager Pep Guardiola. He joined Bayern Munich on loan for the remainder of that season and played against City in the Champions League quarter-finals before returning to the club after the German giants decided against triggering his €70m purchase clause.