Joao Cancelo edging closer to Barcelona return

Joao Cancelo is edging closer to the Barcelona return he has been pushing for all summer – and this time it could be permanent, and even free.

The Portuguese full-back, currently on the books at Al-Hilal and under contract in Saudi Arabia until 2027, has been the subject of negotiations between the two clubs for weeks. Al-Hilal were initially reported to be holding out for a transfer fee in the region of 10-15 million euros.

That stance now looks to be softening.

Saudi sports daily Arriyadiyah, via reporter Hamad Al-Suwaih, reports that Al-Hilal are close to agreeing a contract termination with Cancelo. If completed, that move would clear the path for the defender to sign for Barcelona without a transfer fee.

“Al-Hilal nears the signing of contract termination agreement with Cancelo, paving the way for his signing with Spanish club Barcelona,” the reporter stated.

For Barcelona, it is exactly the kind of breakthrough they needed: a solution that brings back a key player without stretching their fragile finances.

For Cancelo, it fits the story he has been telling for months. After a hugely positive second loan spell at Camp Nou last season, he has made no secret of his desire to stay. He enjoyed the role, the responsibility, the stage. Now, with the new La Liga campaign looming, the door is swinging open for him to walk back through it as a Barcelona player in his own right.