Hansi Flick 'to push' for João Cancelo to stay at Barcelona | OneFootball

As reports that Hansi Flick does not want to lose João Cancelo and has told Barcelona’s sporting hierarchy to try to keep the former Benfica defender.

Cancelo shone in the club’s final outing and has completed the season in Barcelona colours, yet his future remains unclear.

The German coach has been delighted with the Portugal international’s impact since January, with the full back adapting fully to the team’s demands while adding attacking depth, experience and versatility.

Flick has spoken directly with Deco about pursuing Cancelo’s continuity, valuing the intensity, dynamism and attacking threat the defender showed across the second half of the campaign.

Any deal is not expected to be straightforward. Cancelo remains contracted to Al Hilal and is expected to return to the Saudi club after his loan, though he wants to continue at Barcelona.

This season he has made 22 appearances for Barcelona, 15 in La Liga, four in the Champions League and three in the Copa del Rey, totalling 1,894 minutes with two goals and three assists. He is valued at nine million euros.

Source: Glorioso 1904