Barcelona Awaits Al-Hilal’s Decisions Amid Several Transfer Talks
The summer of 2026 is expected to be busy for FC Barcelona’s transfer activity. The Sporting Department, led by Deco, plans several squad changes to strengthen weak areas while addressing potential player departures.
Currently, Barcelona's transfer dealings are closely linked with Saudi club Al-Hilal. One of the main focuses is the potential signing of fullback João Cancelo, a top priority for coach Hansi Flick. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal has shown interest in Barcelona’s forward Raphinha and midfielder Marc Casado.
However, progress on these operations is reportedly slowed down due to internal changes at Al-Hilal. The Saudi club is in the process of selecting a new Sporting Director responsible for the club's strategy for the upcoming season. One of the first major decisions for this new director will be whether to continue with head coach Simone Inzaghi or to appoint a new manager.
Inzaghi’s relationship with Cancelo has deteriorated, and he intended to offload the player. If a new coach arrives, he will have significant input into the handling of all ongoing negotiations with Barcelona, including those involving Raphinha—who wishes to stay at Barcelona—and Casado, who is leaning towards joining fellow Saudi club Al-Nassr, partly due to the presence of Íñigo Martínez.
At present, Al-Hilal’s situation remains fluid, and the appointment of the new Sporting Director will influence the future of these transfer operations.
Barcelona continues to monitor the developments carefully, preparing to act decisively once there is clarity from the Saudi club.
