Al Hilal Takes Firm Stance on Cancelo Amid Barcelona Negotiations

João Cancelo's future has taken another twist. Al Hilal has summoned the Portuguese international to report for the club's pre-season training once his participation in the 2026 World Cup with Portugal concludes. The final decision regarding a potential transfer to Barcelona will only be made after this period, according to Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah.

Despite the player's clear desire to move to Catalonia, the Saudi club appears determined to complicate the operation. Al Hilal officials emphasize that Cancelo has another year left on his contract and that his situation will be evaluated by the sporting department at the end of their pre-season preparations.

Cancelo has already expressed his wish to leave. The full-back felt misled at Al Hilal after being deregistered as one of the foreign players last September, following the transfer window's closure. This prevented him from competing in the Saudi league, limiting his play to the Asian Champions League.

This situation prompted him to seek a loan in January to regain match fitness and arrive at the 2026 World Cup in top form. He chose Barcelona, where he established himself as an undisputed starter under Flick.

Barcelona and Cancelo have already reached an agreement for the next two seasons, with the player reportedly willing to forgo significant amounts from his final year of contract in Saudi Arabia, according to Spanish media. In return, he expected Al Hilal to facilitate his departure, which has not yet materialized. The Saudi club remains steadfast in its intention to recoup a considerable portion of the over 20 million euros invested in acquiring the player from Manchester City.

The uncertainty surrounding Al Hilal's sporting project has also contributed to the delay. While all indications point to the continuity of coach Simone Inzaghi, who initially did not factor Cancelo into his plans, the situation could change. The key might lie in the hiring of a new sporting director, who would be responsible for managing foreign players. Al Hilal aims to sign Richard Hughes, currently Liverpool's sporting director, but a deal is not yet finalized.

On Barcelona's side, patience is the watchword. The Catalan club is prepared to wait for Cancelo until the very end, confident in the feasibility of the deal and entrusting the process to Jorge Mendes. The Portuguese full-back is the top priority to bolster their defense, but Barça does not intend to make extravagant financial moves to secure his signing.