Joao Cancelo is allegedly set to join Barcelona permanently this summer, but it’s unlikely that Barcelona will pay Manchester City more than €20 million (£17 million) for his services.
With 29 games, three goals, and four assists this season, Joao Cancelo the 29-year-old has been a vital member of Xavi’s team since joining the defending La Liga winners on loan this summer.
Cancelo’s contract at the Etihad Stadium expires in June 2027, although it seems doubtful that he would stay at Man City given the rumoured breakdown in his relationship with Pep Guardiola, the English coach.
According to Sport, the English champions will need to take a lowball offer for the Portugal international to move permanently to Barcelona, even though the Citizens are rumoured to be ready to trade him this summer.
According to the article, the Catalan company may make an initial bid of €15 million (£12.9 million) and is unlikely to pay more than €20 million (£17 million).
Barcelona is reportedly hoping that Cancelo will force Man City to sell, and Jorge Mendes, his agent, will play a significant role this summer as well.
In 22 La Liga games this season, Cancelo has tallied two goals and three assists; in seven Champions League games, he has one goal and one assist.
Despite being signed as a right-back, the Portuguese player has mostly played as a left-back in 2024 because Alejandro Balde will miss the remainder of the campaign due to a hamstring injury.
Cancelo moved from Juventus to Man City in 2019, and during that time, he made 154 appearances for his former team, tallying 22 assists and scoring nine goals.
During his tenure at the Etihad Stadium, the defender has won three Premier League titles and one EFL Cup. However, a rift in his relationship with Guardiola caused him to spend the second part of the previous season on loan at Bayern Munich.
Cancelo made 21 appearances for Bayern, helping the team win the Bundesliga, but the Munich powerhouses declined to retain him long-term.
Barcelona’s chronic financial problems will prevent them from being able to make big summertime purchases.
Although Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong are two of the star players rumoured to be going in the impending transfer window, the team’s sports director Deco has stated that “the idea is not to sell anybody.”
When Barcelona visits San Mames on Sunday night to play Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, they will be attempting to extend their winning streak across all competitions to seven games.
