João Cancelo moving closer to Barcelona move

Barça are hopeful of the Portuguese wing-back becoming the club’s next signing.

João Cancelo will be Barcelona’s next signing if everything goes to plan. Both Manchester City and Barcelona and the defender are very close to closing the deal and the idea is that a total agreement will be reached within the next week for a loan deal with an option to buy.

Cancelo’s insistence on playing for Barcelona has been key for City to agree to let him leave for the LaLiga club and the Portuguese will solve the right-back issue for Xavi.

Barcelona’s options

Barcelona had looked into the right-back options of Ivan Fresneda (Valladolid) and Pablo Maffeo (Mallorca), and Juan Foyth (Villarreal).

Loan spell at Bayern

Cancelo was wanted by Barcelona in January, although he ended up leaving on loan to Bayern Munich. This situation led to an argument between Xavi and Pep Guardiola. The Barça coach accused Guardiola of getting in the way of the signing in January. “They told us they didn’t want the player to come to Barcelona”.

Guardiola replied by saying: “Xavi has been very badly informed. He is far from reality. The reality was that we decided that he had to leave and we didn’t care where he went. I won’t say he (Xavi) was misled, but he was misinformed.”

Cancelo has a contract with City until 2027 and a valuation of €50million, hence the formula of transfer with an option to buy.