Barcelona Nears João Cancelo Deal

Barcelona is on the verge of finalizing a deal for Portuguese player João Cancelo, following significant progress in negotiations recently. The early exit of the Portugal national team from the 2026 World Cup has expedited the completion of the transfer.

According to Spanish newspaper "Sport," Barcelona has reached an agreement with Cancelo for a two-year contract, with the transfer fee not exceeding €10 million, including fixed and variable components. Only a few tax-related details concerning the player's contract remain, as he was tax-exempt during his time in Saudi Arabia before moving to Spain.

The report indicates that Cancelo was the top choice for the sporting management to strengthen the full-back position, following his impressive performances with Barcelona in the second half of last season, where he secured a starting spot on the left flank and earned the trust of coach Hans Flick due to his versatility and extensive experience.

Cancelo's stance played a crucial role in bringing the deal closer, as he informed Al Hilal of his desire not to return and agreed to a significant reduction in his financial demands to don the Barcelona jersey. The Catalan club reportedly does not plan to sign another full-back unless unexpected changes occur in the squad during the summer transfer window.

The report also noted that after finalizing the Cancelo deal, Barcelona will fully shift its focus to signing a new striker, with Argentine Julián Álvarez at the top of their list, postponing any decisions on this matter until after the World Cup, while the sporting management continues to explore available alternatives.