Former Barcelona star insists on returning at any cost despite Flick and Deco rejecting the move

Portuguese full-back João Cancelo dreams of rejoining Barcelona after a successful loan spell last season from Manchester City, during which he donned the club’s blue and red jersey.

In August, Cancelo moved to Al Hilal following a loan at Barcelona for the 2023/2024 season, where he had been loaned from Manchester City.

According to El Nacional, while Cancelo is eager to return and compete at the top level in Europe, his wish is not fully supported within Barcelona. While president Joan Laporta is open to his return, both coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco have other priorities, which has prevented a move from materializing.

Flick, while impressed by Cancelo’s offensive abilities—showcased during his loan at Barcelona—has concerns over the defender’s weaknesses in defense. Flick values solid and reliable full-backs, a quality Cancelo has struggled to consistently display.

Deco, on the other hand, feels that bringing Cancelo back doesn’t align with Barcelona’s current sporting project, which aims for a balanced and sustainable team both on and off the field.

Despite these objections, Laporta sees strengthening the defense as crucial for the team, especially given the club’s ongoing defensive struggles. His strong relationship with Cancelo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, may also help smooth any potential negotiations, both financially and contractually. For Laporta, Cancelo’s return represents a practical solution, providing experience and depth to the squad.

Cancelo, for his part, is committed to returning to Camp Nou. Though he has faced challenges adapting to Saudi football, he believes his style is well-suited to Barcelona’s tactics and feels he still has much to offer. He is even willing to lower his financial demands to make the move possible, underlining his dedication to the club.

The situation surrounding Cancelo’s future remains contentious within the club, with Laporta backing his return, while the final decision rests with Flick and Deco, who currently seem to be against it. Although a return seems complicated at present, in the world of transfers, unexpected twists are always possible.