Jeddah, Jan 9 (UNI) FC Barcelona’s Director of Sport, Deco confirmed on Friday that the club is on the verge of signing 31-year-old Portuguese full back Joao Cancelo on loan from Saudi Arabian side, Al-Hilal.
The move would see the player, who can play at either left or right back, return to the Camp Nou where he spent the 2023-24 season playing 42 times in all competitions on loan.
Speaking to the press in Jeddah ahead of Barcelona’s Spanish Supercup final against Real Madrid, Deco confirmed the move, commenting the club wanted Cancelo because “he’s a great player and improves the quality of the squad.”
He said Barcelona needed to extra defensive cover for the second half of the season with Jules Kounde as Barcelona’s only specialized right back and Alejandro Balde, the only natural left-back now that Gerard Martin has moved into central defense.
“We already said we were missing a piece in defense and with Cancelo’s arrival, Eric Garcia can play outside the full-back position, and Kounde can be an option in the center,” explained Deco.
Deco added that Cancelo was desperate to return to the club after his season on loan: “he’s crazy about Barca, and the appeal of the club means he has even taken a pay cut,” he told the press.
