FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta has officially announced that the club successfully reached an agreement to bring Portuguese international João Cancelo back to the Blaugrana from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. Laporta confirmed that the 31-year-old full-back will arrive in Catalonia on Saturday to complete his formal medical examinations before reintegrating into Hansi Flick’s first-team squad. During his announcement, the president reserved high praise for Sporting Director Deco, crediting his negotiation skills for navigating a complex mid-season market to secure a high-priority defensive target.
The move marks a significant homecoming for the versatile defender, who previously enjoyed a productive loan spell at the Camp Nou during the 2023-2024 campaign. Laporta emphasized that the current economic landscape of global football makes such acquisitions increasingly difficult, yet he remains confident that the addition of the experienced Portuguese star will provide the necessary technical quality for the remainder of the season.
“João Cancelo arrives tomorrow and will undergo the medical check-up. He will be with us,” Laporte told TV3. “Cancelo is another great success for Deco. It’s not easy to sign players in this market. Deco has done a great job.”
Cancelo brings a wealth of elite European experience to the Barcelona dressing room, having decorated his career with appearances for some of the world’s most prestigious clubs. Before his brief stint in the Middle East with Al-Hilal, the defender secured league titles and domestic honors with Manchester City in England, Juventus in Italy, and Benfica in his native Portugal. He also featured prominently for German giants Bayern Munich, establishing a reputation as one of the most technically gifted and attack-minded full-backs in the modern game.
Hansi Flick expects to utilize Cancelo’s tactical flexibility on both the right and left flanks, especially as the club pursues success in La Liga and the Champions League. Barcelona fans anticipate that the defender’s familiarity with the club’s philosophy will allow for a seamless transition back into the starting eleven. Following the completion of his medical on Saturday, Cancelo will officially begin his second chapter with the Catalan giants, aiming to build on the four goals and five assists he recorded during his first tenure with the club.
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