Manchester City outcast João Cancelo is on the brink of joining Barcelona on a loan deal, with negotiations between the two clubs in their final phase.
While no official announcement has been made yet, the deal is reportedly “very close“. Both sides are keen to finalize the wing-back’s future within the next 48 hours.
Predisposition to Barça Key in Negotiations
Barcelona’s interest in Cancelo is longstanding. Reports suggest, the player has already agreed to personal terms with the club. The Catalans are motivated to secure his services due to the departure of Jordi Alba and their need for a specialist right-back. While Cancelo’s desire to join Barcelona is clear, negotiations between the clubs remain a challenge.
The player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, played a pivotal role in this negotiation. Manchester City were seeking an obligation to buy at the end of the loan period for £51 million (€60 million). However, Barcelona were pushing for a non-mandatory option to make the transfer permanent for a lower price. The negotiations have gained urgency as Arsenal have also expressed interest in the player.
Cancelo “wants” Barcelona over Arsenal
Arsenal will face depth issues at right-back due to a long-term ACL injury to Jurriën Timber. They spent £40m to acquire Timber from Ajax in this window. However, the injury has forced them to explore alternatives, with Cancelo being a strong candidate. Yet, the player’s heart seems to be set on Barcelona, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Cancelo’s desire to move to Barcelona has led him to prioritize this option, sidelining Arsenal’s interest. Despite rumors linking him to Arsenal, Romano confirms that the Portuguese player “only wants to go to Barcelona”. This sentiment indicates Cancelo’s willingness to agree personal terms with the Spanish club.
Manchester City’s reluctance to utilize Cancelo, especially in light of their preference for defensively-minded full-backs last season paved the way for Cancelo’s exit. Bayern Munich, where Cancelo spent part of the previous season on loan, had the opportunity to secure his services as well but declined.
With Arsenal no longer in contention for Cancelo, the focus for manager Mikel Arteta and director of football Edu Gaspar has shifted towards offloading surplus players. Nicolas Pepe, Cédric Soares, Nuno Tavares, and Folarin Balogun are all believed to be available for transfer.
For more sports updates, follow us on Twitter.
