Flick Urges Deco to Secure Cancelo's Barcelona Stay

With the season all but wrapped up, save for Saturday's clash against Valencia, attention now shifts firmly to squad planning. Barcelona's sporting director, Deco, faces an intense few weeks as he looks to bolster the squad for Hansi Flick, who has already extended his contract until 2028. One of the German coach's top priorities, according to AS, is to secure João Cancelo's continued presence at the club.

Flick is reportedly very pleased with the Portuguese defender's performances, valuing his depth, experience, and versatility. Cancelo has fully adapted to Flick's style of play – characterized by intensity, dynamism, and an attacking mindset – excelling in his ability to break through defensive lines with his powerful runs. While his defensive contributions might have raised some eyebrows initially, the coach believes this aspect has significantly improved in the latter half of the season.

The German coach has publicly expressed his admiration for the Portuguese international. "Everyone saw what he gave us in recent weeks. I value him highly, but it's not easy. Deco has to manage the situation, and we have to wait and see what happens. He's a fantastic player, he gives everything for this club," Flick stated after the victory over Betis. Cancelo's impact was so significant that it pushed Baldé out of the left-back spot, with the young player receiving a clear message from the coach: "He needs to improve more..."

The player's desire is unequivocal: he wants to remain at Barcelona. This was already his wish at the end of his previous loan spell from Manchester City, but the club's financial situation prevented his permanent stay. Now, the circumstances are different, but negotiations are expected to be complex.

Barcelona will need to negotiate with Al Hilal, the club with whom Cancelo is under contract until 2027. The Catalan club's initial hope was that the player could be released for free, but that option appears increasingly unlikely. Therefore, the Spanish club may have to submit a transfer offer, albeit without overspending, as they believe it's improbable that the Saudi team would release him without any financial compensation.

Cancelo's relationship with Al Hilal is reportedly strained, with the player recently accusing the club of misleading him. "At Al Hilal, unfortunately, there were people who didn't tell me the truth. They told me they were going to register me on the Saudi league list, and when the time came, they didn't. In the end, I always end up looking like the bad guy, but I keep my word and wouldn't change it for anything. I've always been like that: direct and without resentment," the player vented during the LaLiga title celebrations.

Since his arrival in the winter transfer window, João Cancelo has featured in a total of 22 matches: 15 in LaLiga, where he scored two goals and provided three assists, four in the UEFA Champions League, and three in the Copa del Rey, a competition in which he also registered one assist.