Joao Cancelo continues to represent Barcelona, but his future at the club remains uncertain due to financial challenges and the need for significant wage cuts. As a result, Barcelona is exploring alternatives for the right-back position.
One main candidate is 21-year-old Spanish defender Ivan Fresneda from Sporting CP. His impressive season, including performances in the Champions League, has attracted attention not only from Barcelona but also from other top European clubs. Fresneda offers defensive stability and offensive contribution, key traits for competitive play.
Barcelona’s sporting director Deco values Fresneda’s profile highly, seeing him as a player ready to compete immediately while still having room for growth. The club considers a transfer fee around €20 million manageable under their current financial circumstances.
Negotiations might be challenging since Sporting is reluctant to sell their promising defender for less than €20 million, and interest from other European teams could push the price higher.
Such a move aligns with Barcelona’s strategy to reinforce key positions without excessive spending, providing a potential replacement for Cancelo and a promising long-term defensive asset.
