FC Barcelona has brought Joao Cancelo back on loan, beating Inter Milan to the punch—even if the former Munich player is not the ideal solution.
Joao Cancelo is not only back in Europe, but also back at FC Barcelona. After Inter Milan initially seemed to have the upper hand in the race to sign the Portuguese international, the Catalans instead completed the deal on Tuesday. Just one day earlier, they had announced that he had passed his medical and that he would be signing the following day. Joao Cancelo is leaving Saudi Arabia’s top club Al-Hilal after a year and a half and joining Barca on loan, having already worn their jersey on loan in the 2023/24 season.
The La Liga leaders are thus responding to the long-term absence of center back Andreas Christensen, who suffered a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee shortly before Christmas. The former Gladbach player’s enforced break of several months meant that Barca had the financial resources to sign Joao Cancelo, as was the case with Marc-André ter Stegen in the summer.
Flick would probably have preferred a center back
According to reports, coach Hansi Flick would have preferred to sign a trained center back as a replacement, but the market apparently did not offer any viable options. With Joao Cancelo, who is at home on the right or left side of the back line, Jules Koundé could move inside if necessary.
The 64-time international (twelve goals) finally left Manchester City in the summer of 2024 after a total of five years, having been loaned out not only to Barca but also to Bayern Munich (January to May 2023). Now, despite a contract valid until 2027, he has returned to Europe, possibly with an eye on the World Cup in the summer.
At Al-Hilal, who won the championship in 2024 and are currently doing well, he remained without a title – just like in 2023/24 with Barca. He now wants to change that in his second attempt. At Barca, he will wear the number 2 jersey.