Barcelona and veteran defender confident of continuing together next season amid transfer uncertainty

Barcelona and veteran defender confident of continuing together next season amid transfer uncertainty Barcelona’s pursuit of Joao Cancelo is far from over, with Mundo Deportivo confirming that both the Catalan club and the Portuguese international remain convinced they will continue together next season despite the complications surrounding his contract with Al Hilal. Cancelo spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Barcelona and remains one of the club’s preferred options to strengthen the full-back positions.  While an agreement in principle exists between the player and Barça , the operation still depends on finding a solution with Al Hilal, where the defender remains under contract for another year. For now, neither side appears concerned, even if the negotiations could take longer than initially expected. Barcelona consider Cancelo a priority signing Despite working on multiple transfer fronts this summer, Barcelona continue to view Cancelo as an important target. In fact, the Portuguese defender remains high on the club’s priority list, with sporting director Deco and the recruitment department determined to explore every possible avenue to bring him back. Cancelo does not want to return to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) However, there is also an acceptance within the club that patience will be required. Al Hilal are not known for making negotiations easy, particularly when it comes to players who still have time remaining on their contracts.  Cancelo’s deal in Saudi Arabia runs until 2027, but the player has no intention of spending the final year of his agreement there and is pushing for a return to Europe. Barcelona therefore believe this is a transfer that will need time rather than a quick resolution. Simone Inzaghi and Jorge Mendes hold the key One of the biggest factors influencing the operation is the situation at Al Hilal. As reported before , Simone Inzaghi’s relationship with Cancelo has become strained, and the Italian coach was prepared to part ways with the defender.  Barcelona want to keep Cancelo. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) However, uncertainty surrounding Al Hilal’s coaching situation means the picture could still change.  If another manager takes charge, the Saudi club may reassess Cancelo’s future before entering formal negotiations. At the same time, super-agent Jorge Mendes is working on creative formulas to finalise the deal and on that note, a certain Marc Casado could play a role . Casado could become part of the equation An intriguing detail emerging concerns the young Barcelona midfielder. The La Masia graduate is admired by Al Hilal and could become a useful piece in negotiations if the Saudi club decides to pursue him during the summer transfer window. Should Casado move in that direction, Barcelona could potentially attempt to include Cancelo as part of the agreement between the clubs.