Barcelona’s hopes of signing Cancelo permanently face significant obstacle — report

Barcelona’s hopes of signing Cancelo permanently face significant obstacle — report

Barcelona’s hopes of retaining Joao Cancelo beyond this season are far from straightforward, with his parent club Al-Hilal in no rush to facilitate a deal.

Hansi Flick has already given his approval for Cancelo to stay, and the player himself is keen to remain at the Camp Nou. But the path to a permanent agreement is complicated.

Al-Hilal’s tough stance

According to Mundo Deportivo, Al-Hilal have made their position clear that there will be no talks until the Saudi League concludes at the end of May 2026.

The report adds that a loan extension as a favour to the player is not being considered, with their preference being either to keep Cancelo or sell him outright.

The Portuguese full-back’s future also depends on internal decisions at Al-Hilal, specifically whether coach Simone Inzaghi remains in his role and what recommendation is submitted to the club’s board.

Will Cancelo remain at Barcelona? (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

If the technical staff approve his continued presence at the Saudi club, Al-Hilal will first attempt to convince Cancelo to return.