“I know what I want for next season” – João Cancelo breaks silence on Barcelona future

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 4: Joao Cancelo of FC Barcelona during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on April 4, 2026 in Madrid Spain (Photo by Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images) | Getty Images

João Cancelo’s stock is rising. He started a bit slowly but he has adjusted to La Liga again after spending time in Saudi Arabia. The FC Barcelona full-back has filled in admirably as the Catalans have struggled with injuries to various defenders. Now, reports say Barcelona are happy to keep him past this season.

Now, the Portugese international has given a hint about his future. “In football, anything can happen. I’m going to keep working. I know what I want for next season, but I’m not going to say it. Right now, I’m going to fight for Barça; my future is irrelevant,” he declared. Cancelo stated that there was “always a chance” he would stay past this season but that at the moment he was a player on loan from Al-Hilal.

The defender hit back at critics who dismissed him during the early part of the season, acknowledging that “it was said that I was finished, that there were doubts.” Now, the situation is quite different. Cancelo has filled in well during injury absences to Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde. Even with both back, he is sure to play a role and could even start in the pivotal clash against Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

During his first spell at Barcelona, Cancelo showed a notable amount of enthusiasm for the club despite his short stay. When Barcelona went searching for a center-back and couldn’t find a good deal, they instead opted for signing the Portugese full-back to give them more options to shuffle things at the back. Despite early pressure over a slow start, Cancelo’s loan signing has been a success.