Key factors behind Barcelona hijacking Inter’s deal for Joao Cancelo | OneFootball

Barcelona have dealt a significant blow to Inter’s transfer plans by making a formal move for João Cancelo. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Catalan giants have submitted an official proposal to Al-Hilal, shifting the momentum of the negotiation firmly toward the Camp Nou.

Notably, Barcelona’s offer consists of a six-month loan deal, with the club proposing to cover a small portion of the Portuguese international’s substantial wages. This move comes despite the club’s well-documented Financial Fair Play restrictions, signaling that President Joan Laporta has decided to “break the delay” to secure the defender. Furthermore, the influence of super-agent Jorge Mendes is proving decisive. Mendes, who maintains a powerful relationship with the Barcelona hierarchy, is actively working to facilitate the transfer, aligning perfectly with his client’s personal preferences.

Indeed, Cancelo’s own intentions have been a major hurdle for the Nerazzurri. While Inter had already locked in a preliminary agreement with Al-Hilal—an operation that would have involved a swap deal with either Stefan de Vrij or Francesco Acerbi—the player specifically asked the Milanese club to wait. His desire was always to prioritize a return to Barcelona, even as Hansi Flick initially showed hesitation regarding the deal.

Consequently, as Barcelona and Al-Hilal enter direct negotiations, Inter’s hopes of landing the 31-year-old are rapidly fading. Should the move to Spain be finalized, the proposed swap deal with the Saudi club will collapse, meaning both De Vrij and Acerbi are now expected to remain at the San Siro for the remainder of the season.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN