Inter Probe Star Fullback Eager to Leave Saudi Arabia | OneFootball

Joao Cancelo will leave Al-Hilal, and his agent Jorge Mendes is trying to engineer his return to Europe and has reached out to Inter, Juventus, and Barcelona, Fabrizio Romano reports (via SOSFanta).

The veteran played for both Serie A powerhouses a few years back. He spent the 2017/2018 season with the Nerazzurri on loan from Valencia. He wasn’t bought out, and the Old Lady scooped him up for €40M. He stayed just a year there, though, as Manchester City acquired him in a package that included Danilo. The fullback also starred for Bayern Munich and Barcelona before heading to Saudi Arabia for €25M in August 2024.

The turn of events could give Inter the chance to address their hole on the right wing, but reuniting with Cancelo won’t be easy despite the circumstances. He makes €15M per year at Al-Hilal. The sum would be very considerable even if sliced in half. His current side would have to contribute heavily, Alfredo Pedullà reports.

The Nerazzurri would sign him on a six-month loan and postpone their search. President Giuseppe Marotta recently ruled out Marco Palestra, who’s very pricey, to avoid messing with Atalanta again.

Our Take on Cancelo, Inter, and Juventus

Considering some of his remarks, he’d certainly pick the former over the latter, although a lot of time has passed since his spell in Turin ended on a sour note. It’d be an unusual signing for the Nerazzurri, which have always gone young and thought long-term as of late. However, they’ll have to do something on the right wing. However, they have a clear need, and the targets who would fit their MO seem either not ready or too expensive for them at the moment.