João Cancelo’s Potential Return to Barcelona Amid Defensive Challenges

João Cancelo, set to turn 32 in May, has had a diverse career across eight clubs, beginning at Benfica and later playing for Valencia, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona.

Currently, Cancelo is contracted with Saudi club Al-Hilal, having made a permanent move there in the summer of 2024. However, he is eager to return to Europe during the current transfer window. Inter Milan expressed interest in re-signing him, yet Cancelo appears to prefer a return to Barcelona.

As Barcelona entered the January transfer window, the need to strengthen their defense became urgent following an ACL injury sustained by center-back Andreas Christensen. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed that while identifying a direct replacement for Christensen was a priority, he and sporting director Deco deemed the chance to reacquire Cancelo too advantageous to overlook.

In a press conference, Nagelsmann stated, “I discussed this with my staff, and Deco and I communicate frequently. We believe that once Ronald Araujo returns, we will have solid alternatives in defense. João can play on both flanks, offering us valuable versatility. While nothing is finalized yet, I would welcome his arrival, as he represents a quality addition to our squad.”

Nagelsmann further elaborated on the club’s strategy: “In the past two years, we’ve had to be prudent with our player acquisitions. Unlike other clubs that can spend hundreds of millions, we’ve focused on developing our young talent. Now we have the opportunity to bring in an experienced player, which I would greatly appreciate.”

In other news, Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo is reportedly on track to return to action after taking a mental health break in December. The reigning La Liga champions will compete for their Spanish Super Cup title in Saudi Arabia this week, facing Athletic Club in the semifinals, with a potential final against either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.

When questioned about Araujo’s availability for Wednesday’s match against Athletic, Nagelsmann responded, “We will assess him in training. I want to have a conversation with him before making any decisions. Currently, he is not included in our plans.”

Concerns are also emerging regarding Lamine Yamal’s fitness, as he was absent from an open training session. Reports indicate that he has been focusing on an individual fitness regimen.

Following their Super Cup endeavors, Barcelona will resume La Liga play on January 18 with an away match against Real Sociedad, hoping to have Cancelo registered and available for the game in the Basque Country.