Redaction Simon Brett with David Tully
Published on 2024-08-02 11:42:19
Barcelona are in advanced talks to bring Manchester City fullback Joao Cancelo back to the club on a permanent basis after a loan spell last season. The agreement is said to include a mandatory clause that will see Cancelo complete a permanent move to the Camp Nou next summer. The fee being discussed is relatively low at €18m, which is significantly less than the £60m City paid for him five years ago.
City’s willingness to accept a lower fee for Cancelo may be due to his desire to stay at Barcelona and reluctance to go to another Premier League team. The player has made it clear he wants to make the switch to Spain permanent, making it difficult for City to negotiate a higher fee with clubs in other countries. Additionally, the Cityzens were likely hesitant to sell Cancelo to a division rival in the Premier League, despite potential bigger bids from teams like Arsenal and Chelsea.
Cancelo’s absence from City’s preseason fixtures and Pep Guardiola’s lack of interest in reintegrating him into the first-team squad suggest that the player is not part of the manager’s plans. Guardiola has effectively ruled Cancelo out of his plans since the player left on loan in January 2023. These factors may have contributed to City’s decision to sell Cancelo to Barcelona for a relatively low fee.
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