João Cancelo nears Barcelona return as talks progress
Portuguese defender João Cancelo is training individually in Portugal while awaiting the finalization of a transfer deal between Al-Hilal and Barcelona.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
Portuguese full-back João Cancelo is continuing individual training in the Algarve region while he awaits the conclusion of negotiations between Al-Hilal and Barcelona. The player has yet to join the Saudi club's pre-season camp, focusing instead on maintaining his fitness levels with personal coaches, including Julierson Diaz.
The 31-year-old spent the latter half of last season on loan at the Catalan club, working under Hansi Flick. Negotiations between the two clubs have accelerated recently, with reports indicating that Al-Hilal has lowered its asking price, bringing the deal to a valuation of approximately 10 million euros.
Should the transfer be completed, it would mark Cancelo's third spell with the club. He is aiming to reach peak physical condition immediately to ensure he can contribute from the start of the season under Flick's tactical system.