Spanish media reports have revealed that Portuguese star João Cancelo of Al Hilal Saudi FC is close to returning to Barcelona, after expressing a clear desire to leave the Roshn League during the upcoming winter transfer window.

The newspaper "Mundo Deportivo" explained that Cancelo, despite being under contract with Al Hilal until the summer of 2027, is seeking to return to European football, with the Catalan club being one of the top options available to him.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano pointed out that Barcelona's management has taken steps in the past 48 hours to inquire about the status of Cancelo's contract, who previously wore the Blaugrana jersey on loan from Manchester City during the 2023-2024 season.

The report pointed out that Barcelona is not the only club interested, as both Italian teams Inter Milan and Juventus are monitoring the situation of the Portuguese full-back, anticipating entering the race to sign him during the winter transfer window.

Cancelo has expressed his emotional connection to Barcelona and his hometown club Benfica on multiple occasions. Before transferring to Al Hilal, he attempted to return to the Catalan team, but financial fair play regulations prevented the deal at that time.

The player publicly reaffirmed his stance after the match against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup, emphasizing his love for Barcelona, the city, and the group he previously played with, while simultaneously committing to his current journey with Al Hilal.

Cancelo is highly valued at Barcelona for his tactical versatility and ability to play as either a right or left back, providing coach Hansi Flick with additional options to strengthen the defense.

Cancelo's return to Camp Nou remains a strong possibility this winter, pending the resolution of negotiations and overcoming the financial obstacles that hindered the deal in previous attempts.