Barcelona in advanced negotiations to sign 32-year-old defender, deal only ‘a matter of days’

Barcelona in advanced negotiations to sign 32-year-old defender, deal only ‘a matter of days’ FC Barcelona are growing increasingly confident of finalising the permanent transfer of Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo, with negotiations entering their advanced final stages. Indeed, according to journalist David Bernabeu of SPORT , it is now simply a “matter of days” until the final administrative hurdles are cleared and the transfer is announced. Permanent return for a key asset The 32-year-old defender, who spent the latter half of the previous campaign on loan in Catalonia, has made his intentions unequivocally clear: his priority is to return to Barcelona. Following a successful six-month loan stint where he impressed under manager Hansi Flick, the club view his permanent acquisition as a critical piece of their defensive rebuild. Cancelo’s tactical versatility, capable of operating effectively on both the right and left flanks, has made him an indispensable asset for the technical staff, who value his ability to invert into midfield and create offensive overloads. Permanent transfer close. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) Financial details and delays Barcelona have been locked in talks with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, where Cancelo remains under contract until 2027. Despite initial resistance, the two clubs are close to finalising an agreement for the Portuguese international. Previous reports have suggested that Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with the Saudi Arabian outfit that will see them pay around €10 million including bonuses for the defender. Set to return to Barcelona. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) The definitive closure of the deal has been slightly delayed due to outstanding fiscal and administrative details, specifically related to tax regulations, as reported earlier today . With the player currently enjoying his post-World Cup vacation in Sardinia following Portugal’s exit, the signing is likely to take place once the squad returns from their pre-season camp in England. Despite the slight delay, there is zero sense of panic within the Barcelona offices. The La Liga champions are fully assured of the player’s commitment, knowing he has rejected other potential avenues to ensure his return to La Liga. With negotiations now in an advanced stage it seems only a matter of time before Cancelo becomes the Catalans’ third major signing of the summer after Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, whose transfer will be announced imminently.