The German Hans Flick has made a decision regarding the future of the Portuguese Joao Cancelo, giving the green light for his continuation with Barcelona after the end of the season, in a move that reflects the coaching staff's confidence in the player's abilities and his role within the team.

The Spanish newspaper "Sport" reported that Flick initially agreed to sign Cancelo during the winter transfer market as an available opportunity, even though he preferred to sign a central defender. However, he succeeded in deploying Gerard Martin in the defensive center, which made him more satisfied with the performance of the Portuguese full-back.

The newspaper explained that Flick is now convinced of Cancelo's importance due to his versatility, as he provides the team with clear attacking solutions, with the potential to improve his defensive level. This has led the club to seriously consider keeping him beyond the summer.

Sport indicated that Cancelo's return to Barcelona was driven by his strong desire to play for the team, as he took advantage of Christensen's injury and agreed to reduce his salary in Saudi Arabia. He had previously given up part of his wages during his previous loan from Manchester City, which reinforced the club's confidence in his commitment.

The player is delivering good performances, especially after participating on the left side due to Balde's injury. He quickly adapted to the team, making the deal beneficial for all parties. Barcelona gained an immediate technical addition, while the player continues to play in the environment he desires.

According to the newspaper, Cancelo's continuation is contingent on a fundamental condition, which is obtaining the termination of his contract with Al-Hilal, who signed him from Manchester City in the summer of 2024 for 25 million euros. Additionally, he must reduce his salary to align with Barcelona's wage policy, despite earning more than 12 million euros net in Saudi Arabia.

On the other hand, Barcelona might offer the player a two-year contract, especially since the club sees the deal as a suitable opportunity both sportingly and economically to acquire an international player without a transfer fee.

The report confirmed that Barcelona is keen on retaining Cancelo if the financial conditions are met. In case the deal falls through, the club is considering alternatives to strengthen the full-back position, with Alejandro Grimaldo's name resurfacing as one of the options, alongside the priority of signing a left-sided central defender in the upcoming period.