CLOSED: Joao Cancelo returns to Barcelona

Apuesta a este partido aquí

La Liga

1 X 2

Real Sociedad Barcelona

18/01/26 21:00:00

5.25 4.50 1.55

 PUBLICIDAD

Cuotas validas al publicarse, sujetas a cambios. Regístrese en bet365, ingrese 5€ o más en su cuenta y conseguirá un 100% de su ingreso válido en créditos de apuesta (hasta 100€). Solo para clientes nuevos. Se aplican las condiciones. Las ganancias no incluyen el importe de los créditos de apuesta. Se aplican premios máximos, restricciones de juego, límites de tiempo y condiciones. Es necesario registrarse.

The 2026 winter transfer market has delivered a swift verdict in the Ciudad Condal with a lightning-fast operation that fulfills Hansi Flick's desires. FC Barcelona has secured the signing of Joao Cancelo, who will arrive on loan from Al Hilal after weeks of intense negotiations in the Middle East, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.

The Portuguese full-back, who prioritized his return to Spain despite having a pre-agreement with Inter Milan, will join the team until next June. The cost of the operation has been set at four million euros for the loan fee, a figure that fits within the current tight financial reality.

🚨💙❤️ BREAKING: João Cancelo to Barcelona, here we go! Deal in place on loan until June.

Exclusive story confirmed as Barça will pay €4m as loan coverage to Al Hilal, as revealed today.

Despite Inter having deal in place with Al Hilal, João only wanted Barcelona. 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/Sy3CRMeIvT

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 5, 2026

This move by FC Barcelona responds to the urgency of balancing a squad affected by absences, especially after Andreas Christensen's injury. The Catalan club will use the salary margin freed by the Danish center-back to cover five million of the Portuguese defender's contract during these months. It is a strategic move that not only brings hierarchy but also provides the coaching staff with a player capable of performing in different positions on the field.

Tactical versatility as the engine of FC Barcelona

Hansi Flick has been the main supporter of this signing, valuing above all the extreme versatility that the Portuguese international offers to the group. FC Barcelona seeks with Joao Cancelo a two-way solution that allows shifting Jules Koundé to the central defense in moments of maximum defensive need. Furthermore, his presence on the right or left flank frees up young players like Gerard Martín, allowing them to maintain their progress without the pressure of playing in less natural positions.

The creative ability and unusual technique of this full-back to generate interior play are virtues that the coaching staff considers fundamental to break down low blocks. FC Barcelona trusts that his previous experience at the club will facilitate an immediate adaptation to the frantic pace demanded by the German coach's playing style. Everything now depends on his physical response, a deciding factor for the player to perform at the intensity required by European elite football.

The unwavering desire of the defender to wear the blaugrana jersey was the key that unlocked the transfer, rejecting economically superior offers from the Italian Serie A. FC Barcelona thus incorporates a veteran of many battles who perfectly understands the club's idiosyncrasy and the tactical demands of a highly vertical system. Joao Cancelo arrives with the ambition to show that his football remains intact and that he can be the differential factor in competing for titles this season.

The economic fit of the Portuguese star

Financial engineering has been key, allowing the full-back's salary to strictly conform to what LaLiga's Fair Play allowed after the latest medical setback. FC Barcelona has demonstrated agility in negotiations to secure a luxury reinforcement for a loan price considered a market opportunity. If his physical performance accompanies his undeniable quality on the ball, the Camp Nou will once again enjoy one of the most imaginative full-backs on the planet.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, CERRADO: Joao Cancelo regresa al Barcelona