Manchester City fullback Joao Cancelo remains linked with a move to Barcelona this summer. The 30-year-old spent last season at Barcelona on loan, and reports suggest that the Spanish giants are unlikely to sign him on a permanent deal. Currently, the defender is on international duty with Portugal at the 2024 UEFA Euros.
Cancelo came up through the youth ranks of Benfica before securing a permanent move to Valencia, where he impressed in La Liga. He spent a season on loan at Inter Milan, but after the Italian club decided not to trigger his buy clause, Juventus swooped in and signed him on a permanent deal. Following another successful season in Italy, Manchester City signed him for a deal valued around £60 million in August 2019, making him the most expensive right-back of all time.
After a slow start at the Etihad, Cancelo soon became an integral squad member under Pep Guardiola. The defender was a creative force on the flanks and enjoyed two successive Premier League titles with the Citizens. However, in his fourth season, trouble started brewing with Guardiola. Cancelo was reportedly unhappy with his game time, unable to accept youngster Rico Lewis starting ahead of him.
Cancelo was subsequently loaned to Bayern Munich in the January window, but the Bundesliga champions chose not to sign him on a permanent deal at the end of the season. He then spent the next season on loan at Barcelona.
A future at Manchester City seems impossible for Cancelo. The defender has publicly accused Guardiola of unfair treatment, leading to a complete breakdown in their relationship. Cancelo seems keen to continue with Barcelona.
“I really like being at Barça, I am very comfortable. My family, my daughter, my wife also. We hope that next year we will be here,” the defender was quoted saying.
With Barcelona still in financial turmoil, it remains unlikely that they will sign the Portuguese on a permanent deal. The Catalans have reportedly asked for another season-long deal with the option to buy Cancelo for £25 million at the end of the season.
While City would prefer to sell Cancelo on a permanent deal, it’s likely he will spend another season on loan at Barcelona if no other team shows interest.
