Jorge Mendes brings an old acquaintance closer to Barça once again

BarcelonaBarça are starting to make moves in the winter transfer market. João Cancelo is reportedly close to returning to Barça on loan. The Portuguese full-back would thus return to Barcelona, ​​where he already played during the 2023-24 season on loan from Manchester City after parting ways with Pep Guardiola. With the arrival of Hansi Flick, the club decided against making the move permanent after his loan spell, and he instead joined Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. Hansi Flick stated in the pre-derby press conference on Saturday the need to add a defender. But any signing had to "make sense." In Cancelo's case, who is one of the few options with a chance of joining Barça this winter, several conditions must be met, which both parties (player and Barça) consider a given. The first is the player's desire to wear the Barça colors. This is what the Portuguese player has told his agent, Jorge Mendes, who is accustomed to doing business with Joan Laporta. In fact, the good relationship between the super-agent and the Barça president already explains the arrival of Cancelo (and also João Félix) on the last day of the 2023 summer transfer window. These were deals orchestrated more by the president himself than by the then-coach, Xavi Hernández.

The second condition is that Cancelo accepts a substantial pay cut. At Al-Hilal, he earns over €10 million net, a salary that is unaffordable for Barça, which is still overdrawn in the fair play salary. And the third condition is strictly related to the second. Apart from a significant reduction in his earnings – which the Portuguese footballer would be willing to accept – Barça must notify La Liga of Andreas Christensen's long-term absence (four months). The deadline is January 9th, which is the period the club has to send a medical report to the league to use 80% of the Danish player's salary cap space. It's a solution within the rules to make life easier for football clubs with the fair play exceeding the salary cap, which is where the Catalan club has been since 2021 and where it will remain when the transfer window closes at the end of January unless there are any extraordinary deals. Barça will activate this option, so Cancelo can be registered "without generating any impact" on the salary cap, according to sources consulted.

Cancelo wants to play for Barça

Cancelo has never hidden his affection for Barcelona, where under Xavi Hernández he played 42 matches (38 as a starter), scoring four goals and providing five assists. The Portuguese player is known for his attacking prowess, although he would need time to readjust to the competitive pace of European football after a season and a half playing in Saudi Arabia. While not his first choice, Hansi Flick is open to Cancelo's arrival and has given the green light to the sporting director. Both parties consider the agreement a done deal. Cancelo, who wants to leave Saudi football, had also considered a possible return to Inter Milan – who offered him a better salary – but his priority is Barça.