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Barcelona 'facing struggle to sign Portugal international'

Barcelona 'facing struggle to sign Portugal international'
© Reuters
Barcelona face the prospect of losing on-loan Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo this summer, according to a report.

Barcelona are reportedly facing the prospect of losing Joao Cancelo this summer, with the Portugal international potentially being sold by Manchester City to another club.

The 29-year-old joined the La Liga champions on loan from Man City last summer, and he has been a vital player for Xavi's side this season, making 32 appearances, scoring four goals and registering four assists.

Barcelona want to keep hold of the right-back beyond the end of the campaign, but the club's financial problems will make it difficult for them to sign him on a permanent basis.

According to Sport, the Catalan giants want to agree another loan deal with Man City for the 2024-25 campaign, with a permanent transfer then potentially going through in the summer of 2025, when the club are expecting to be in a stronger financial position.

The report, though, claims that Man City are keen to sell Cancelo this summer, and there is serious interest from Saudi Arabia in the Portuguese.

Athletic Bilbao's Benat Prados in action with FC Barcelona's Joao Cancelo on March 3, 2024© Reuters

Al-Hilal are believed to be interested in the defender, and Barcelona would not be able to compete with the Saudi Pro League outfit from a financial point of view when it comes to a transfer fee.

Man City are said to value the right-back at €50m (£42.8m), as he still has another three years left to run on his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

Cancelo has scored twice and registered three assists in 24 La Liga appearances this season, while he has also netted twice and provided one assist in eight Champions League outings.

The Portuguese was brought to Barcelona to play right-back, but he has recently been operating at left-back due to Alejandro Balde's season-ending hamstring problem.

Cancelo missed out against Atletico Madrid before the international break due to concerns over a possible heart problem, but tests ultimately gave him the all-clear.

Barcelona's Joao Cancelo before the match on September 3, 2023© Reuters

Cancelo is unlikely to play for Man City again

The defender arrived at Man City from Juventus in the summer of 2019, and he has represented the Citizens on 154 occasions, scoring nine goals and registering 22 assists in the process.

Cancelo has won three Premier League titles and the EFL Cup during his time at the Etihad Stadium, but he missed out on Man City's treble success last term.

The full-back made 26 appearances for the Citizens in the first half of last season, but a breakdown in his relationship with head coach Pep Guardiola led to him moving to Bayern Munich on loan.

Cancelo played 21 times for Bayern in the second half of the 2023-24 campaign, but the Bundesliga giants turned down the chance to sign him on a permanent basis.

The former Benfica youngster has a contract at the Etihad Stadium until June 2027, which will place Man City in a strong position when it comes to any potential transfer negotiations.

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Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo on September 23, 2023
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