Sport: Flick agrees to keep Cancelo, free transfer + pay cut are crucial

According to Diario Sport, Flick has agreed that Cancelo should continue to stay with the team after the summer, recognizing his versatile attributes. 

However, Cancelo needs to leave on a free transfer and accept a pay cut in order to sign a two-year contract with Barcelona; if this cannot be achieved, Barcelona will begin to bring in a replacement full-back.

The report states that Flick agreed to sign Cancelo in the winter transfer window this year, although his priority at the time was to bring in a centre-back, but it was indeed a market opportunity. Flick adjusted Gerard Martin to the centre, and this change worked well, and he is now very satisfied with Cancelo's performance. This was Deco's clear choice and will be continued. Flick has agreed that Cancelo will continue to stay with the team after the summer and believes that the player's versatile attributes will be of great benefit to the team. The coach clearly recognizes that Cancelo can provide a lot of help in attack and is capable of doing better in defence.

The reason why Cancelo returned to Barcelona is because he is determined to wear the Barcelona jersey. After Christensen's injury, he saw an opportunity and offered to give up part of his salary in Saudi Arabia. Barcelona is the player's obsession, and when he was originally loaned from Manchester City, he had already accepted a significant pay cut, so Barcelona club owes him a favour. In January of this year, the sports management bet on his loyalty to the club, and the result was obvious: the loan met the salary limit requirements, and Flick got a universal card that can be used on both left and right.

In fact, due to Balde's physical problems, Cancelo has appeared more on the left than on the right. He adapted well because he understood the team, the system and the dressing room atmosphere, and this operation was successful for all parties: Barcelona gained a strong immediate player, and the player played where he wanted to play and could stay in shape at the highest level to prepare for the World Cup.

Cancelo and his agent Mendes already know Barcelona's intentions, but they must act in the coming weeks to resolve his departure from Al Hilal. The club signed him from Manchester City for 25 million euros in the summer of 2024, but he is currently not in the team's competitive plans. He has one year left on his contract, and Barcelona's condition is that he must leave on a free transfer and his salary must meet Barcelona's salary policy. This means he will give up huge earnings, as Cancelo earns more than 12 million euros net in Saudi Arabia.

As compensation, Barcelona are in effect willing to offer him a contract guarantee for two seasons. The 31-year-old Cancelo still has a long career ahead of him and is in good physical condition. For Barcelona, this is a meaningful operation both athletically and economically, as they will get a national team-level player who is committed to the project for zero transfer fee.

If all economic conditions are met, Barcelona clearly want Cancelo to stay. Otherwise, the club is already considering alternatives to strengthen the full-back position, as there will be changes in the defense line. The name of Grimaldo has reappeared among the left-wing candidates, but it remains to be seen whether any players will leave before corresponding reinforcements can be made. The priority on the defense line is to sign a left-footed centre-back and keep Cancelo. After that, everyone'll see.