João Cancelo is beginning to look like himself again after a slow start.
His best moment in an FC Barcelona shirt this season came against Levante. He started the match at left-back, pushing forward, beating his marker a few times, and providing an assist for Frenkie de Jong with a precise cross.
He arrived shortly before the season after a long spell in Saudi Arabia, which showed early on in his play. However, he seems to have turned a corner with a winning performance.
According to SPORT, Barcelona and the player’s representatives have discussed the possibility of continuing together beyond June, provided he performs well and the financial terms are agreed upon.
The winter move was not part of the original plan. Barcelona had been seeking defensive cover after Andreas Christensen’s injury but struggled to find a center-back at the right price. Cancelo, capable of playing both full-back roles and stepping into midfield, became the alternative. The agreement was a straightforward six-month loan with Barcelona covering only the portion of his salary allowed under their cap, while Al Hilal continued to pay a significant share.
Cancelo also lowered his wages to complete the move despite interest from Inter Milan. Without a purchase option in the contract, Barcelona’s position reportedly is that they would only make a permanent move if he terminates his contract with the Saudi club and arrives as a free agent.
This condition is said to be non-negotiable: the club will not pay a transfer fee. Any permanent deal would also require a reduced salary, with discussions reportedly focusing on a two-year contract with much less money than he earned in Saudi Arabia.
Currently, Cancelo is not viewed as a starter ahead of Jules Koundé or Alejandro Balde. He offers something different — drifting inside, joining midfield phases, and taking risks in possession, sometimes leaving space behind him. He is a player offering a degree of risk but also reward, with high highs and low lows.
The match against Levante was one of those highs. Barcelona is betting they will see more highs than lows.
