Imminent Barcelona winter arrival wants to stay at the club beyond June – Report | OneFootball

Although it seemed like there would be no changes in the FC Barcelona team in this winter transfer window, the scenario has changed considerably in the last few days.

This is particularly so as several sources indicate that the Blaugrana side is close to landing the Portuguese fullback Joao Cancelo on loan till the end of the season from the Saudi side Al-Hilal.

However, according to SPORT, the fullback wants to stay at the Catalan club even after the end of this season, even though Barcelona are yet to make a decision in this regard, and will do so only after assessing his performances in the second half of the season.

(Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The Blaugranes were initially looking for a center-back from the market, but they value the commitment shown by the Portuguese fullback, who is willing to make significant financial efforts to rejoin the Catalan team.

He is willing to significantly lower his wages to permanently join Barcelona, but it remains to be seen whether the club would agree to such a move.

For now, Joao Cancelo is set to join on loan in a move that could benefit all parties involved. Al-Hilal would offload a player who is not in the plans of their coach, Simeone Inzaghi, while Cancelo himself would have the opportunity to play at a top-level club, thereby maximizing his chances of participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Meanwhile, Barcelona would get another top-level defender who already knows the club well, and can contribute significantly to the achievement of the team’s objectives this season.