At a glance
- The Player’s Stance: Tired of the financial uncertainty at FC Barcelona, João Cancelo is now reportedly considering a return to Benfica, his boyhood club.
- The Al-Hilal Hurdle: Al-Hilal (who paid €25M for him) demand a permanent transfer or a high-cost loan, terms that Barça currently cannot afford.
- The Benfica Factor: The Portuguese club offers a multi-year contract and the emotional appeal of a “homecoming” to lead their new sporting project.
- The Deadline: If Barcelona doesn’t finalize a formal proposal in the coming weeks, Cancelo is expected to greenlight the move to Lisbon before pre-season begins.
João Cancelo’s future has taken an unexpected turn. The Portuguese full-back, currently on loan at FC Barcelona from Al-Hilal, is beginning to consider a return to Benfica given the economic uncertainty surrounding his continuity at the Camp Nou.
FC Barcelona faces a new dilemma in its sporting planning. Cancelo, a key piece in Hansi Flick’s system due to the accumulation of injuries, finds himself at the center of a triangle of interests involving the city of Barcelona, his current owners in Saudi Arabia, and the romanticism of a homecoming in Portugal. According to recent reports from SPORT, the player’s patience is starting to wear thin, and Benfica is already positioning itself to “repatriate” one of its prodigal sons amid comments Cancelo made to Canal 11.
“I’ve already won more than I expected, but playing for Benfica is like playing for Barcelona, it’s for love. I’m going to lower my salary,” Cancelo said.
The Al-Hilal Factor: A Financial Obstacle for FC Barcelona
Unlike previous seasons, the owner of Cancelo’s rights is not a European club, but the Saudi side Al-Hilal. This changes the rules of the game for Barça for two main reasons:
- A return on their investment: The Saudi club made a significant investment for the Portuguese international (€25 million) and will not facilitate another free loan or a low-cost shared salary agreement.
- Economic demands: Al-Hilal is looking for a permanent sale or loan compensation that, as of today, Barça struggles to fit within its tight salary cap. FC Barcelona, meanwhile, wants Cancelo to negotiate a termination of his contract.
Benfica: An Emotional and Competitive Offer to Rival FC Barcelona
Benfica’s interest is no coincidence. The Lisbon-based club is restructuring its squad to reclaim the throne in Portugal and compete with more guarantees of success or progression in the Champions League after suffering a playoff defeat to Real Marid.
For Cancelo, a return to the Estádio da Luz represents:
Returning to His Roots: He was developed in the Eagles’ youth academy and has always expressed a desire to return one day.
Long-term Stability: Benfica would be willing to offer a multi-year contract, providing the peace of mind he hasn’t found with the year-to-year loan renewals in Barcelona.
What Does Barça Lose if Cancelo Chooses Benfica?
From a technical standpoint, Cancelo’s departure would force Deco and the sporting management to search for a very specific profile in the market.
- Tactical Versatility: Few full-backs in the world can occupy the right flank, the left flank, and act as an inverted midfielder as naturally as João.
- Immediate Impact: Unlike a young signing or a developmental project, Cancelo already knows the Barça system and the pressure of performing under the demands of the Camp Nou as we’ve analysed here.
The Clock is Ticking
Although Cancelo’s priority has been to keep wearing the Blaugrana colors, and Flick has greenlit his potential continuation beyond this season’s loan, football waits for no one. If Barça fail to present a formal offer to Al-Hilal that meets their demands in the coming weeks, the player could give the final “yes” to Benfica to secure his future before the start of the pre-season.
Should this come to pass, and Cancelo returns to Lisbon, Alejandro Balde’s future at the Spotify Camp Nou could also change amid reported Premier League interest.
