FC Barcelona is still absolutely buzzing with confidence that they’ll permanently sign Joao Cancelo, a move that feels like it’s been in the works forever. But hold up, don’t expect to see him rocking the iconic Blaugrana jersey in England for their pre-season camp anytime soon. Nope, this veteran defender’s transfer isn’t hitting the finish line until *after* the club wraps up their training across the pond.
Cancelo’s Chill Vibe While Barcelona Waits
Cancelo himself has already locked down his personal terms with the club, making it crystal clear his top priority is getting back to Catalonia this summer. But get this: the guy’s been enjoying his summer break, soaking up the sun in Sardinia, Italy, since his loan officially wrapped up at the end of June. Meanwhile, Portugal got knocked out of the World Cup, and he’s just… chilling. So, what’s the actual holdup? It’s all about Barcelona and Al-Hilal, the club Cancelo’s under contract with until 2027, needing to iron out those pesky, boring fiscal and administrative details. You know, the stuff no one really wants to talk about, but absolutely has to get done. Here’s the kicker, though: there’s absolutely zero urgency from Barcelona’s side either. Head coach Hansi Flick knows Cancelo just started his vacation period, so they’re not rushing him back. It means our guy is probably going to kick off his pre-season training with Al-Hilal, under Simone Inzaghi, before he eventually makes the move to Catalonia. Wild, right?
Flick’s Depth Chart Shuffle During Pre-Season
So, why the surprisingly chill attitude from Barcelona, even with pre-season kicking off? They genuinely believe there’s plenty of time to get this deal done before La Liga officially kicks off on August 23rd against Elche. Plus, Coach Flick isn’t exactly scrambling for left-back options during pre-season. Alejandro Balde remains the senior choice for the position, even though he’s currently following an individualized fitness program. Then you’ve got academy prospect Jofre Torrents getting some valuable opportunities. Gerard Martin, who’s naturally a left-back but is increasingly being used as a center-back, also provides solid cover in the position. And check this out, 17-year-old academy full-back Jordi Pesquer just joined first-team training over the past couple of days while Balde is doing his own thing. That gives the coaching staff another young gun to evaluate during these early pre-season preparations. It seems like they’ve got their bases more than covered while they wait for Cancelo to finish his tan.
What’s super clear is that Barcelona is still super high on getting Cancelo permanently. After his second successful loan spell at the club, they’re confident this deal will be finalized in the coming weeks. So, while we wait for Cancelo to finally make his way back to Catalonia, the squad will be grinding through pre-season. We’ll be looking forward to seeing him rejoin the team and get ready for that big La Liga opener against Elche on August 23rd. It’s gonna be an absolutely crucial start to the season for the squad, and having a player of Cancelo’s caliber officially locked in for the long haul, rather than just on loan again, will be massive!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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