The stunning surprise came from Cancelo: Barcelona face an unexpected development
What happened?
Barcelona have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Joao Cancelo. The Portugal full-back has terminated his deal with Al-Hilal, turning free agent and clearing the path for a permanent move to the Catalan club.
According to Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo", Cancelo, 32, has resolved his situation at Al-Hilal despite having a season left to run on his contract. He is expected to touch down in Barcelona next Tuesday to finalise the transfer and put pen to paper on a new deal.
The Catalans always wanted to keep hold of the veteran after what he showed following his arrival. His displays on the left flank won over Hansi Flick, and the German asked for Cancelo to stay, making him one of the key options in his plans for the new campaign.
Initially, the deal looked set to cost Barcelona. Al-Hilal had valued the player at around 10 million euros at the start of the window. Recent developments have flipped the negotiations entirely.
Several factors pushed things towards a mutual termination: Cancelo's desire to leave, the glut of foreign players in Al-Hilal's squad and the strained relationship with Italian coach Simone Inzaghi. That leaves the player free to move for no fee, handing Barcelona the chance to wrap up the deal at the lowest possible cost while allowing the Portuguese to improve his contract terms and wages at Camp Nou.
Barcelona are planning to offer Cancelo a two-year contract, the reports say, a move that underlines their faith in his ability to deliver despite turning 32.
It will be the third time Cancelo pulls on the Barcelona shirt. He first joined on loan during the 2023-2024 season, then returned in the second half of the 2025-2026 campaign, before recent events opened the door to a permanent stay.
Cancelo shares a special bond with Barcelona. On countless occasions he has made no secret of his admiration for the club, through both his words and his social media posts. Now he stands on the brink of realising his wish to settle at the "Camp Nou" permanently, having seen his two previous stints limited to loans.
