João Cancelo’s best moment in an FC Barcelona shirt this season came against Levante. He started the match from left-back, where he pushed high, beat his marker a couple of times, and delivered an assist for Frenkie de Jong with a measured cross. It was the version of Cancelo the club thought they were getting in January.
He arrived short of minutes after a long spell in Saudi Arabia, and it showed early on. But he’s seemingly turned the corner with a winning performance. The question is what version
we will see for the rest of the season
According to SPORT, Barça and the player’s camp have discussed the possibility of continuing together beyond June, as long as he performs and the numbers make sense.
The winter move for him was not part of the original plan. Barça had been searching for defensive cover after Andreas Christensen’s injury but found it hard to find a center-back for the right price. Cancelo, able to play both full-back roles and step into midfield, became the alternative. The agreement was a straight six-month loan, with Barça taking on only the portion of his salary allowed under their cap. Al Hilal continued to pay a significant share.
Cancelo also lowered his wages to complete the move, despite interest from Inter Milan. With no purchase clause in the contract, Barça’s position reportedly is that they would only move for him if he can terminate his contract with the Saudi club and arrive as a free agent.
That condition is said to be non-negotiable: the club simply will not pay a transfer fee. Any permanent deal would also require a reduced salary, and the outline being discussed is reportedly a two-year contract with much less money than he was being paid in Saudi Arabia.
At the moment, Cancelo is not viewed as a starter ahead of Jules Koundé or Alejandro Balde. He offers something different. He drifts inside, joins midfield phases and takes risks in possession. Sometimes that leaves space behind him. He’s a player that offers a degree of risk but also of reward. He has high highs and low lows. The match against Levante was one such high. Barcelona are betting they will get more highs than lows.
