Veteran full-back applies pressure on club as he pushes for Barcelona transfer – report | OneFootball

Joao Cancelo remains determined to return to FC Barcelona despite officially ending his second loan spell with the club on 30 June.

The Portuguese full-back has returned to Al Hilal, where he has one year remaining on his contract, but his priority continues to be a move back to the Spotify Camp Nou.

Cancelo’s pressure tactic

According to 365Scores (h/t SPORT), Cancelo has informed Al Hilal that he does not intend to play under head coach Simone Inzaghi.

As a way of increasing pressure on the Saudi club, the defender has made his return conditional on Inzaghi leaving his position.

Cancelo is pushing for Barcelona move. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images)

However, the demand is viewed as unrealistic, with Al Hilal’s board having already reaffirmed its confidence in the Italian coach, making such a scenario highly unlikely.

Barcelona aware of Cancelo’s wish

Barcelona’s sporting department is fully aware of Cancelo’s desire to return. Club officials have asked the player to remain patient while they continue searching for a formula that could make the transfer possible.

The biggest obstacle remains the financial demands of Al Hilal. The Saudi club paid just over €20 million to sign Cancelo and has no intention of allowing him to leave on a free transfer.

They continue to seek a fee exceeding €10 million, a valuation Barcelona believe is too high for a player whose contract expires in just one year.

The Portuguese international has already demonstrated his commitment to Barcelona in previous transfer windows.

During the winter market, he turned down a more lucrative offer from Inter Milan in order to preserve his chances of remaining with the Catalan club during his second loan spell.

Eager to join Barça. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)

That willingness to prioritise sporting ambitions over financial gain continues to strengthen Barcelona’s interest.

Important role in Flick’s team

Within the club, Cancelo is viewed as far more than a squad player. Following his strong performances during the latter part of last season, Hansi Flick sees him as a key part of his plans.

In fact, the manager currently considers the Portuguese veteran the leading candidate to start at left-back, even ahead of Alejandro Balde.

Despite the financial complications, Barcelona have not abandoned their pursuit.

The club has no intention of overpaying or rushing into a deal they believe exceeds the player’s market value, but they also remain reluctant to give up on a footballer who has repeatedly made it clear that his first choice is to wear the Barcelona shirt once again.