Cancelo Arrives in Barcelona: "I Made an Effort and Managed to Leave for Free"

João Cancelo has already arrived in Barcelona to finalize his return to the Catalan giants. The Portuguese international landed in Spain on Monday via a private flight organized by the club, and upon exiting the private terminal at El Prat airport, he appeared visibly pleased to be back at what he considers his home.

"I'm very happy," stated the Portuguese full-back, admitting the operation was more difficult than he anticipated. "I thought it would be easier, but in the end, it got complicated. Well, I'm where I want to be," he confessed, adding that he "missed competing a lot": "It's not easy for a player to be out of action. I love football."

The Benfica academy product's desire was key to unlocking the deal. Cancelo revealed that his priority was always to return to Barça and that he pushed hard to secure his release from Al Hilal as a free agent. "I managed to leave for free. I made an effort, but the most important thing is that I'm happy, my family is happy, and this is where I want to be," he emphasized.

It's worth remembering that the Saudi club initially demanded between 10 and 15 million euros for his release, but the full-back's pressure in recent weeks resulted in the termination of his contract. This situation allowed the Spanish champions to secure a player who knows the club well and never hid his desire to return, having dropped several hints on his social media in recent days.

The Portuguese reinforced his special connection with the Blaugrana. "I really like this club, and not just now, but from before. It's a very special club that aligns well with my style of football. I'm here to help, and we hope to win many titles," he declared, showing optimism for the team's future: "We are building a very good team."

Cancelo's arrival caps off an intense weekend for Barça's sporting directorate, which also secured the signing of Rodri, thereby strengthening two positions deemed crucial by Hansi Flick.

Now, the club is working to complete medical examinations and contract signing to officially seal a deal that has dragged on for weeks. If all goes as planned, Cancelo could join training before the Joan Gamper Trophy, thus beginning his third stint at Barça, this time with the intention of staying permanently.