Barcelona’s attempt to sign veteran full-back growing ‘complicated’

Barcelona’s attempt to sign veteran full-back growing ‘complicated’ Alejandro Balde’s importance at Barcelona took a strong hit when the club signed Joao Cancelo on loan midway through last season. The Portuguese full-back unlocked the attacking potential of Barcelona’s left-flank by adding firepower and width – something the club have been missing for a long time. The result of the same is that Balde’s future is no longer certain. Hansi Flick, needless to say, has been pushing for Cancelo to be brought to Catalonia on a permanent basis, and the club has been working on the same for a long. Now, however, it appears to have hit a hurdle. Internal changes causing external consequences As reported by  SPORT , the internal changes at Cancelo’s parent club Al-Hilal are playing a role in the player’s future to the point where his signing can now be considered ‘complicated’ . Simone Inzaghi’s departure changes everything. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) Barcelona had an agreement in place with the player for the next two seasons and were working on an agreement with Al Hilal over the transfer fee. It was expected to be just a symbolic fee, given that the manager Simone Inzaghi did not count on him in any capacity. Now, however, Inzaghi is negotiating his contract termination, and all signs point to Vitor Pereira taking over as the new manager next season. The new coach, however, highly values Cancelo and is not open to selling him if there is a chance he can stay. The player has already made it clear to Al Hilal that he wishes to leave for Barcelona permanently, but the internal sporting mayhem is creating several uncertainties. No longer simple Cancelo wants only Barcelona. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) With the new manager counting on the under-contract star, Al-Hilal may well demand a premium for his transfer as opposed to their decision to let him go for a symbolic fee. After all, they paid €20 million for him and could well look to make a profit on it.  Cancelo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, knows that the player does not wish to stay in Saudi Arabia and has asked Barcelona for patience and time to clarify the situation. What he has made clear, however, is that the operation may be long-drawn. The player, for his part, is willing to take a cut on his salary to join Barcelona and even give up the salary for the one year he has left on his contract with Al-Hilal.