Barcelona are set to confirm the return of João Cancelo in the coming days after reaching an agreement with Al-Hilal for the Portuguese full-back’s loan move until the end of the current European season.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Cancelo will rejoin Barça on a short-term loan running until June, following the player’s clear desire to return to the Catalan club. Barcelona managed to move ahead of Inter Milan in the race, largely due to Cancelo’s preference to wear the Blaugrana shirt again.
Al-Hilal proposed surprise Lewandowski swap
While the deal ultimately moved forward as a straight loan, negotiations reportedly included a far more ambitious proposal. Journalist Sacha Tavolieri revealed that Al-Hilal explored a potential swap deal involving Robert Lewandowski.
Under the proposal, the Polish striker would have joined the Saudi club on a significantly higher salary, while Al-Hilal would release João Cancelo to Barcelona. The idea was viewed positively by parts of Barça’s board, as it would have eased the club’s wage bill by moving on one of their highest earners.
However, the plan was ultimately shelved.
Lewandowski chooses to stay at Barcelona
Fabrizio Romano reported on December 6 that Lewandowski decided to remain at Barcelona until the end of the season, when his current contract is set to expire. With the striker unwilling to leave mid-season, Barcelona were forced to find an alternative solution to secure Cancelo’s return.
As a result, the Catalan club agreed to pay a €4 million loan fee to Al-Hilal for the Portuguese defender. The move has received full approval from head coach Hansi Flick and the squad, with Cancelo’s previous spell at the club leaving a strong impression.
Cancelo’s impact and future at Barcelona
João Cancelo previously played for Barcelona during the 2023–24 season on loan from Manchester City. In that campaign, he made 42 appearances, scoring four goals and providing five assists — nine goal contributions in total.
This season at Al-Hilal, under Simone Inzaghi, Cancelo featured in six matches, registering one goal and two assists. He has also continued to play a role for Portugal, earning four caps and contributing two goals and two assists.
Cancelo remains under contract with Al-Hilal until June 2027. If Barcelona wish to keep him beyond this season, the club will need to reopen negotiations for either a permanent transfer or another loan agreement.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
