Barcelona told to fork out €15 million for veteran defender’s permanent signing | OneFootball

FC Barcelona re-signed Joao Cancelo for a second loan spell back in January, with the full-back arriving from Al Hilal on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

After a slow start to life in Catalonia, the 31-year-old veteran has steadily grown in prominence in the team in recent weeks, with his versatility and attacking intent adding a lot of value.

So much so that talk of a potential permanent move in the summer is starting to gain weight, with reports suggesting that Hansi Flick has also given his OK to such an arrangement.

However, Barça would go through with the operation only if Cancelo were to become available for free and agree to take a significant pay cut.

Al Hilal want €15 million for Cancelo

But, now, according to reports in Saudi Arabia, as relayed by Mundo Deportivo, Al Hilal will demand a fee of €15 million from Barcelona for the transfer of Cancelo.

For now, the Catalans have not yet made a final decision regarding the defender’s continuity beyond this season.

Cancelo has impressed at Barcelona. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The La Liga champions intend to assess Cancelo’s sporting progression and, if he receives approval from Flick, as is being alleged, they also wish to ensure that both personal terms and transfer conditions align with their financial strategy.

Barcelona’s position is that the Portuguese international should arrive at the club on a free transfer, without any fee.

However, Al Hilal are seeking financial compensation. They are open to a permanent sale, but only if they receive €15 million for the remaining year on the player’s contract, which runs until 2027.

Barcelona, for their part, reject this possibility and are only considering a contract termination that would allow the player to leave on a free transfer.

It is believed that only the intervention of Cancelo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, could help resolve the situation, provided a viable formula can be found to end the contractual relationship amicably.