Cancelo a Top Priority for Flick at Barcelona

German coach Hans Flick is insisting on the permanent retention of Portuguese João Cancelo at Barcelona, following the defender's outstanding performances during his loan from Al Hilal. Cancelo's continuation has become one of the club's top priorities in the current summer transfer window.

According to reports, Barcelona and Al Hilal have made significant progress in negotiations regarding Joao Cancelo's permanent transfer to the Catalan club, with a preliminary agreement in place for a deal worth around €10 million, pending the completion of final procedures and the official announcement of the deal.

Flick believes that Cancelo's versatility represents an important tactical addition to the team, as the player can occupy both right and left-back positions, in addition to his ability to move into midfield and contribute to build-up play. These qualities provide the German coach with additional solutions during matches.

Flick's insistence on Cancelo, despite the presence of big names linked to Barcelona, including Rodri and Julian Alvarez, indicates that the coach is prioritizing the reinforcement of the full-back position at this time, especially with his ability to rely on Cancelo on the left side alongside Alejandro Balde.

Despite the significant progress in negotiations, the deal has not been officially finalized yet. Additionally, Cancelo's recent return to training with Al Hilal has raised some concerns about the timing of his transfer to Barcelona. However, the latest reports indicate that the Catalan club remains confident in completing the deal, while the player is still keen on returning to Camp Nou.