Barcelona loanee Joao Cancelo stuck in limbo as Al-Hilal delay call | OneFootball

Although it is not at the very top of their priority list, FC Barcelona would also be working to strengthen their flanks going into the next summer transfer window.

One of the options that the Catalans have on the table in this regard is to continue with Joao Cancelo, who arrived in their team in the last winter transfer window on a half-season loan. The Portuguese full-back is still highly valued within the club for his ability to operate on both flanks and his influence in the final third.

However, any move to retain him is far from simple. Cancelo remains under contract with the Saudi side until 2027, meaning Barcelona would once again need to open talks with Al-Hilal if they want to explore either another loan or a permanent solution.

As Mundo Deportivo reports, there is no immediate decision expected from the Saudi club regarding his future. Al-Hilal have decided to put any discussions on hold for now as they wait for clarity on several key sporting matters.

The first issue is the situation of head coach Simone Inzaghi, whose future remains open depending on how the current title race ends. After a recent draw against Al Nassr in a decisive fixture, the Saudi Pro League race remains tight and his continuity is still not fully defined.

On top of that, Al-Hilal are also preparing changes at board level with the expected arrival of a new sporting director. The club want this structure in place before making any calls on squad planning, including decisions involving Cancelo.

For Barcelona, this effectively means the operation is on standby, with no movement expected until Al-Hilal resolve their internal situation.

Cancelo himself has already made his position quite clear. Following Barcelona’s La Liga title success, he publicly criticised Al-Hilal, claiming he was not told the truth when he signed, and made it clear that he has little intention of returning to Saudi Arabia.

He is currently focused on continuing his career at Barcelona, although his future will ultimately depend on negotiations between both clubs once Al-Hilal are ready to take a final decision.