Joao Cancelo don finally settle im wahala with Al-Hilal. The Portugal defender don terminate im contract with the Saudi club, and now e don become free agent. This one na big news for Barcelona, because the Catalan club don dey chase am for long time.
According to reports from Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Cancelo wey don turn 32, don resolve im situation with Al-Hilal even though im contract still get one year. The next step na to fly go Barcelona, where e go sign new deal. E go reach there next Tuesday to complete all the transfer procedures.
Barcelona coach Flick na im dey push for this move. Since Cancelo come back on loan last season, im performance for left flank don convince the German gaffer. Flick don tell the club say im need Cancelo, and now e dey count am among im key players for the new season.
At first, this transfer no go easy. Al-Hilal bin dey demand around 10 million euros for the player. Some reports even talk say dem want 10-15 million. But as things dey unfold, the deal don change completely. The contract termination don make Cancelo free, so Barcelona go fit sign am without paying any transfer fee. This one na big win for the club, because e go save money and still get the player wey dem want.
Why e leave Al-Hilal? Na several factors. Cancelo imsef don express strong desire to go. Al-Hilal also don get too many foreign players for their squad, so dem need to reduce. And e get issue with coach Simone Inzaghi, the Italian tactician wey dey manage the team. All these things push the deal towards contract termination.
Barcelona dey plan to give Cancelo a two-season contract. The move show say the club still believe for im ability, even though e don reach 32. For Cancelo, this one go be third time wey e go wear Barcelona shirt. E first play for the team on loan during 2023-2024 season, then e return again for the second half of 2025-2026 season. Now, e go finally do am permanent.
Cancelo never hide im love for Barcelona. Both for im statements and for im social media posts, e don always talk about the club with plenty respect. E don dey dream to settle for Camp Nou for good, and now that dream soon go become reality. E don already miss Al-Hilal opening game of the season, and coach Inzaghi talk say any decision about the Portugal star na for the club board.
Reports from Saudi sports newspaper Arriyadiyah, with journalist Hamad Al-Suwaih, confirm this development. Dem say Al-Hilal dey near to sign the contract termination agreement with Cancelo, paving the way for im move to Barcelona. The defender don make am clear say e want to stay at Barcelona, after enjoying imsef back at Camp Nou last season. Now, e go return ahead of the new La Liga season, and Barcelona fans go dey happy to see am back.
