Joao Cancelo is determined to make a comeback to FC Barcelona after spending a season on loan with the La Liga giants, according to recent reports. The Manchester City defender has been out of favor with Pep Guardiola for over a year now, ever since he was excluded from the senior squad after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Guardiola revamped his Manchester City team, leading them to a historic Treble and their first UEFA Champions League title by utilizing players like Rico Lewis and John Stones in a new full-back system. Consequently, Cancelo was deemed surplus to requirements and was sent on a six-month loan to Bayern Munich. However, the German club declined the opportunity to make the deal permanent for around €70 million.
After another loan spell, this time with FC Barcelona, Cancelo is now looking to stay with the Catalan club beyond the current transfer window. However, Manchester City is not interested in loaning him out again and is seeking a permanent sale for the Portuguese international, with a price tag of €20-30 million. Cancelo himself prefers to continue at Barcelona next season.
Barcelona needs to secure the funds to make a permanent deal happen, especially after withdrawing from the pursuit of Bernardo Silva due to financial constraints. Silva, who expressed interest in leaving Manchester City, is likely to remain with the team due to the lack of suitable offers in the current market.
If Cancelo does leave Manchester City soon, the club does not plan to find a direct replacement, as the coaching staff believes they have enough depth in the squad to compensate for his absence. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona can meet City’s demands and secure Cancelo’s services for the upcoming season.
