Barcelona are closing in on a loan move for Joao Cancelo which will contain an option to buy the player at the end of the season, which could in turn become an obligation should certain criteria be met.
Xavi’s side have long been eyeing up Cancelo as they look to find a solution to their issues at right back, and with the Portuguese defender out in the cold in Manchester, they have sensed an opportunity.
Cancelo spent the last part of last season out on loan at Bayern Munich after falling out with Pep Guardiola in the New Year. Now back at the Etihad, he doesn’t seem to have a long term future in Manchester and was not part of the matchday squad for either of the opening two games of the season, despite defensive injuries to John Stones and Ruben Dias.
A deal is now set to be a matter of time to take Cancelo to the Camp Nou on an initial one year loan deal that will include a 25m euro option to buy the player at the end of the season.
That could change though. As per Spanish sources, the option will become an obligation to buy the player should Barca reach the last eight of the Champions League.
They have failed to make it out of the group stages in either of the last two seasons, but there is renewed optimism that they could offer a strong improvement with their La Liga title win putting them in pot one for the upcoming group stage draw.
Cancelo’s arrival would be Barcelona’s fourth of the summer following teammate Ilkay Gundogan as well as Spanish pair Oriel Romeu and Inigo Martinez, all of whom have arrived on free transfers.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/xlmedia/75056cb2-70a2-47ac-a9bf-dc86877bc260.png)
