Press reports have revealed new developments in the future of Portuguese full-back João Cancelo, who is on loan from Al Hilal to Barcelona until the end of the current season, amid his clear desire to continue with the Spanish team.

The "Fanaticos" website reported that the player has decided against returning to Al-Hilal, despite receiving a lucrative financial offer, preferring to continue his journey with Barcelona after the performances he delivered under coach Hansi Flick.

On the other hand, Barcelona is facing difficulty in finalizing the deal due to Al-Hilal's management insisting on receiving a suitable financial compensation or engaging in a swap deal, especially since the player's contract is still ongoing with the Saudi club.

Reports indicated that Cancelo, 31 years old, has already begun, in collaboration with his agent Jorge Mendes, to take legal and administrative steps to end his association with Al Hilal, in an attempt to facilitate his permanent transfer.

The player also expressed his willingness to reduce his annual salary to complete the deal, prompting Barcelona's management to officially start negotiations. Meanwhile, Al Hilal is demanding around 15 million euros, while the Catalan club is looking to lower the amount or reach a suitable agreement.

It is noted that Al Hilal signed Cancelo from Manchester City in the summer of 2024, and he participated in a large number of matches with the team. He remains of interest to Italian clubs, most notably Inter Milan and Juventus.