"The terms of the deal help explain why Barcelona went down this road again. Cancelo arrives from Al Hilal on a free loan until the end of the season, with a salary that has been heavily reduced to make the numbers work. According to Marca, the player had been pushing for a return even before Andreas Christensen's injury, and his desire to be back in Europe, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup in mind, played a major role."
"For a club still operating under financial pressure, a deal with a player who already knows what it's like at Camp Nou is hard to dismiss, especially if it comes without a transfer fee. From Hansi Flick's perspective, the appeal is mostly practical. Cancelo can play on either side of the defense, which immediately creates room to move pieces around."
"Where Cancelo really changes things is with the ball. Barcelona have sometimes looked short of ideas down the right, especially in matches where Lamine Yamal is doubled up and left without support. Cancelo brings movement, overlaps, and the option to drift inside, all of which can help break open low blocks in La Liga. Even taking the skeptical point of view, one could say he can be useful in specific moments, not as a constant presence, but as a way to tilt a game that is going nowhere."
João Cancelo rejoins FC Barcelona on a free loan from Al Hilal with a reduced salary until the end of the season. The player sought a return to Europe with the 2026 World Cup in mind, and the club accepted a low-cost option amid financial constraints. Cancelo's versatility allows him to play on either side of the defense, enabling tactical adjustments such as sliding Jules Koundé inside and reducing Alejandro Balde's workload. His ball-carrying, overlaps, and inside drifts can unlock low-block defenses and provide creative options down the right. Defensive lapses and inconsistency remain concerns, positioning him as a situational game-changer rather than a constant solution.
Read at Barca Blaugranes
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