Talks Set To Continue With Al Hilal
Barcelona remain confident they’ll eventually land João Cancelo, even though a deal hasn’t materialised despite weeks of negotiation. Talks with Al Hilal will continue in the coming days, and Barcelona insist patience will pay off before the transfer window closes.
This saga stretches back months. Cancelo spent last season on loan at Camp Nou, impressing under Hansi Flick after a difficult spell in Saudi Arabia. Once that loan expired, Barcelona moved quickly to make a permanent transfer their priority. Al Hilal, though, haven’t made things easy.
The Saudi club insists Cancelo remains under contract until 2027, and they’re in no rush to sanction a cut price departure. At one stage, Al Hilal even instructed him to report for preseason training, a clear signal they weren’t simply going to wave him through. Cancelo, frustrated, has publicly criticised how the club handled his situation.
Still, his intentions have never wavered. Speaking through agent Jorge Mendes, Cancelo made clear he wants only Barcelona, reportedly willing to sacrifice salary to force the move through. Personal terms were reportedly agreed with Barcelona some time ago. Consequently, the real obstacle now sits squarely between the two clubs, not the player himself.
Barcelona’s sporting department views this deal as unfinished business rather than a lost cause. Flick considers Cancelo his preferred option at right back, particularly given the club’s ongoing search for defensive depth. Financing remains complex too, since Barcelona’s overall summer spending already carries significant risk.
Why Barcelona Believe It Gets Done
Despite the slow pace, sources close to the negotiations describe genuine optimism inside Barcelona. Executives believe Al Hilal will eventually soften their stance, especially once Cancelo’s limited role under Simone Inzaghi becomes harder to ignore. Barcelona, however, refuse to overpay simply to accelerate matters.
Timing favours Barcelona too, in one sense. With Cancelo publicly unhappy and his World Cup involvement already uncertain, prolonged limbo suits nobody at Al Hilal either. Eventually, that pressure could force movement on valuation.
For now, both sides continue talking. Barcelona expect resolution before the window shuts, banking on persistence rather than an inflated bid to finally bring their man home.
Follow every twist of Barcelona’s summer rebuild on the KCPredict blog. More background on the standoff comes via Goal.