Barcelona are facing a real headache when it comes to trying to keep on loan defender Joao Cancelo at the club past the end of the current campaign.
Cancelo has impressed since arriving in the winter from Al-Hilal and has become a regular fixture in the starting XI at left-back, taking over from Alejandro Balde.
Barcelona are eager to keep Cancelo on but know it won’t be easy as finances remain tight. The club have been hoping to sign Cancelo on a free transfer even though he still has a year left
to run on his Al-Hilal contract.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Al-Hilal are “very reluctant to facilitate his departure” and will not even think about starting talks until the end of the season.
Much will depend on whether coach Simone Inzaghi continues. If he does, then Al-Hilal will try to convince Cancelo to come back and see out his contract. If Cancelo insists on an exit, then Al-Hilal will try to sell for a fee of €15 million.
Barcelona, meanwhile, will hope that Cancelo’s agent Jorge Mendes can help them out. Mendes works with several other Barcelona players and his influence could be key to any deal that sees Cancelo continue.
