Cancelo: I'm Where I Want to Be, Here's What I Did for Barcelona

Portuguese defender João Cancelo arrived in Barcelona today, Monday, to prepare for signing his contract with the Catalan club for three seasons, keeping him with the team until June 2029.

João Cancelo has ended his association with Al Hilal and joined Barcelona on a free transfer, having spent two loan spells with the Catalan side, the first under Xavi in the 2023/2024 season, and the second with Hans Flick from January to June.

Al Hilal was initially looking to secure €10 million for João Cancelo's transfer, but the player has pressured for a release from the club, with only one year remaining on his contract and coach Simone Inzaghi not relying on him, alongside the presence of three additional foreign players in the team's roster.

Before departing for Barcelona, Cancelo posted a picture from inside his plane and wrote: "Back to home." He then spoke about his happiness in returning to the Catalan club, confirming that his desire to wear the Barcelona shirt was clear.

João Cancelo stated in remarks reported by the Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo": "I am very happy, I am extremely happy to be here, I am where I want to be. I had been training separately for a week, and I told Deco that I would either move here or stay there for a year without playing while still receiving my salary."

He added: "I took a pay cut, but for me it was either signing with Barcelona or nothing. This is a very special club, and I am here to help. I hope we win many titles; we are building a strong team."

Hans Flick had agreed to Cancelo's return during the last winter transfer window, despite the German coach's priority being to sign a left-back, as the Portuguese player provided the team with great flexibility by being able to play in both right and left-back positions.

João Cancelo has convinced Julian Nagelsmann of his worth during his previous stint at Barcelona, which helped him achieve his desire to join the Catalan club on a permanent basis.