Reports from Spain suggest that Joao Cancelo’s hopes for a second loan spell at Barcelona may have hit a roadblock. This is due to his high wage demands and his impact in the dressing room as a Manchester City player. Cancelo had previously gone on loan to Bayern Munich and then to Barcelona after falling out of favor with Pep Guardiola in 2022. Despite returning to Manchester City for pre-season, the Portugal international’s future at the club remains uncertain. While Guardiola has not ruled out his involvement in the team, Cancelo has not been part of the pre-season training or the first competitive game against Chelsea. Barcelona has not completely shut the door on Cancelo’s return, but they have concerns about various obstacles to arranging another loan deal.
Barcelona is still keeping an eye on Joao Cancelo for a potential return to the team, although there are several factors that need to be addressed before any decision is made.
The player from Portugal has not been fitting in well at Manchester City ever since having a falling out with Pep Guardiola.
However, Cancelo’s high wage demands could be a stumbling block for his potential move to the financially struggling club. According to SPORT, his hefty £11.9million (€14m) yearly salary is a major concern for the club. Despite agreeing to a pay cut at the beginning of the 2023-24 season to facilitate the transfer, the 30-year-old is reportedly not willing to do so for a second season. Barcelona, facing financial constraints and operating under a strict salary cap, are hesitant to offer Cancelo a salary higher than what he earned in the previous season. Their main financial focus is on finalizing the registration of several players, including their key summer acquisition, Dani Olmo. Reports from Mail Sport in June indicated that the club had not yet registered nine senior players, including rising talent Lamine Yamal, due to their financial difficulties. Apart from salary concerns, Barcelona officials are also questioning Cancelo’s on-field performance and behavior off the pitch, contributing to the uncertainty surrounding his potential transfer to the club.
Barcelona is reportedly facing challenges with player registration, including the process for their recent acquisition, Dani Olmo.
The 30-year-old player was penalized for a foul on Ousmane Dembele during a crucial Champions League match last season. Concerns were raised about Cancelo’s performance in the second leg of the Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain match, where the French team came back to win 4-1 (agg. 6-4) after trailing in the first leg. Cancelo’s penalty foul on Dembele gave the visitors an advantage in the game. Aside from his on-field performance, there are also reports questioning Cancelo’s attitude in the team, especially when he was not included in the starting lineup. Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde’s strong fitness and form in the right and left positions could see Cancelo spending more time on the bench this season, as they are reportedly the preferred choices of coach Hansi Flick.
Hansi Flick has named Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde as the top choices on his radar.
Cancelo will be missing Joao Felix’s support in the dressing room as he has not been able to impress either the senior players or the younger members of the team. This loss of an ally in Felix is significant as the player has now made a permanent move to Chelsea after a loan spell at Barcelona. Negotiations for Felix’s transfer involved Conor Gallagher’s departure in the opposite direction to Atletico Madrid. If Cancelo does not return to play in Spain, one of his options is a move to Saudi Arabia. According to reports from Mail Sport, Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal has shown interest in both Cancelo and Walker, with Saud Abdulhamid’s departure to Roma opening up a spot for new signings.
