Despite their financial problems, FC Barcelona were able to incorporate one of the best-attacking fullbacks in the world in their squad for the last season. The Catalans signed Joao Cancelo on a free loan from Manchester City, but the Portuguese fullback has returned to the Premier League side since the end of last season.
The Blaugranes once again wanted to sign the defender for this season, but Manchester City were not too keen to send him on another loan as they wanted to cut their losses on him by selling him permanently to an interested side. In recent days, the Saudi side Al-Hilal has emerged as one of the options best suited to Manchester City’s intentions.
According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, the Saudis are open to putting in an offer of around €40 million for Cancelo, while also offering the player a very lucrative personal contract of 3 years with a salary of €16 million per year to woo him to play in the Middle East.
In fact, the President of Al-Hilal has already traveled to Paris to finalize this operation with Manchester City. The two clubs have already arrived at an agreement, and now the Saudis need only to convince Cancelo to give his nod to this move. Al-Hilal have made significant advances in this regard as well in the last few days, and his signing can be finalized as soon as today.
It would be impossible for Barcelona to match these terms offered by the Saudis, especially in their current fragile economic condition. Thus, if Cancelo ends up joining Al-Hilal in the coming days, the Catalans will have to look for another fullback in the market if they want to reinforce their flanks in the final days of the summer transfer window.
