Inter Milan was said to have finalized an agreement for Joao Cancelo from Al Hilal; however, Fabrizio Romano reports that the Portuguese player is prioritizing a move back to Barcelona, who have shown interest in bringing him back.
Cancelo, who was on loan at Barcelona during the 2023-24 season from Manchester City, will rejoin the team on loan until the end of the season, with Barcelona set to pay a fee of 4 million euros for the rental period from January to June.
🚨💙❤️ Breaking news: Joao Cancelo is leaving for Barcelona! On loan until June.
Exclusive article confirming that Barça will pay 4 million euros as loan compensation to Al Hilal, as revealed today.
Despite Inter having signed a contract with Al Hilal, Joao only wanted Barcelona. 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/Sy3CRMeIvT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 5, 2026
It’s believed that the Barcelona player’s voices within the squad played a crucial role, urging the club to bring the 31-year-old right-back back into the fold.
Cancelo has won league titles with several teams, including Benfica in Portugal, Juventus in Italy, Manchester City in England, and Bayern Munich in Germany; however, his initial stint at Barcelona did not yield any trophies. In addition, he was part of the Portugal squad that won the UEFA Nations League in 2019.
Fan Take: This move is significant for soccer aficionados as it showcases Barcelona’s strategic focus on bolstering their squad with experienced talent. Cancelo’s versatile play could enhance the team’s performance, potentially tipping the scales in La Liga and beyond.
