In a significant development, Joao Cancelo is on the verge of joining Barcelona within the upcoming week. The discussions between the Catalan club and Manchester City revolve around a potential season-long loan arrangement for the accomplished full-back, coupled with an option to purchase that is presently under deliberation.
Xavi, the manager of Barcelona, has given his approval for the acquisition of the Portuguese talent, effectively ending any pursuit of Fresneda. Despite prolonged discussions with Real Valladolid’s player Fresneda over several months, it is now evident that the Blaugrana have shifted their focus, leaving Fresneda without an opportunity to join their ranks.
Open negotiation
After engaging in discussions with Joao Cancelo’s representative, Jorge Mendes, who is also a prominent figure in the football world, Barcelona conveyed their intentions regarding the acquisition of the defender. As negotiations progress, Mendes is currently in talks with Manchester City to secure Cancelo’s departure from the English club. The atmosphere surrounding these discussions is notably positive, with all parties expressing optimism about successfully finalizing the deal.
No specific right-back
Xavi is placing his confidence in Cancelo to bolster the right-back position, recognizing the urgency of enhancing this area during the ongoing transfer window. Currently, the coach lacks a dedicated right-back option, as evidenced by his recent utilization of Kounde in that role, a move that didn’t align with the Frenchman’s preferences. As such, addressing this gap in the squad has become a crucial priority for Xavi and Barcelona during this stage of the transfer window.
Araujo and Sergi Roberto
The other options are Ronald Araujo, who can also play there. Defensively, he is a sure thing, but the team loses out in attack when he is deployed there. The opposite happens when Sergi Roberto plays, as he can attack, but he struggled when up against a fast winger.
Now, the next move will be to add a winger. The club believe the deal for Cancelo will be finalized in the coming days and that he’ll arrive in Barcelona before the weekend.
Playing against Villarreal is more complicated because he will miss training sessions, but Xavi wants the Portuguese as soon as possible.
