Barcelona reportedly view Joao Cancelo as a priority signing this summer, but the Catalan giants are unlikely to be able to acquire the Manchester City defender on a permanent basis.
Cancelo, 30, spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Barcelona, representing the club on 42 occasions in all competitions, contributing four goals and five assists in the process.
The Portugal international was brought to the Catalan side as a right-back, but he played a lot of football at left-back last term due to Alejandro Balde's season-ending injury.
As it stands, Cancelo will be back in pre-season training with Man City later this month, but the defender is not believed to be in the long-term plans of head coach Pep Guardiola.
The full-back spent the second half of the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Bayern Munich after a fall-out with Guardiola, and Man City are believed to be keen to sell him this summer.
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Barcelona 'want Cancelo to stay at Camp Nou'
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona remain determined to sign Cancelo on another loan deal due to their financial issues, but Man City are thought to want a permanent exit.
As a result, the Catalan outfit could be forced to look elsewhere for a new full-back if they are unable to agree another short-term move for the Portuguese.
Cancelo joined Man City from Juventus in 2019, and he has represented the Citizens on 154 occasions in all competitions, winning three Premier League titles and one EFL Cup.
The defender made 26 appearances for the English club in the first half of the 2022-23 campaign, but he was allowed to leave for Bayern in the early stages of 2023.
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How did Cancelo perform at Barcelona last season?
Cancelo was a key player for Barcelona during the 2023-24 campaign, featuring on 42 occasions, with 32 of those appearances coming in La Liga, while he also played 10 times in the Champions League.
The defender contributed two goals and four assists in Spain's top flight last term, while he managed two goals and one assist in the Champions League.
Cancelo's ability to play as both a right-back and a left-back made him even more important for Barcelona last season when Balde picked up a season-ending injury.
The Portuguese played as a wing-back in his country's opening game of Euro 2024, and he certainly gives Barcelona more flexibility when it comes to possible formation changes next season under their new manager Hansi Flick.
However, unless Man City are willing to accept another loan deal, it seems that the La Liga giants may be forced to look at alternatives this summer.
Matt Law
