Barcelona Sign João Cancelo on Permanent Deal Through 2029
3 sources across 3 countries · Brazil · Spain · United States
Who reported this
- CNN Brasil
- El Pais
- Al-Monitor
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- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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FC Barcelona announced on Thursday that they have signed Portuguese defender João Cancelo on a permanent contract until June 30, 2029. The 32 year old joins as a free agent after rescinding his contract with the Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal by mutual agreement. This marks Cancelo's third stint with the Catalan club, following two previous loan spells, including one in the 2023/24 season and another in the second half of last season. During his previous time at the club, he made 65 appearances with six goals and nine assists.
Manager Hansi Flick specifically requested the signing to add versatility and offensive capability to the defense. Cancelo expressed his desire to be competitive and win the Champions League, stating that he wants to defeat all teams, not just Real Madrid. The signing process involved some complications. According to one report, Cancelo had to train separately for a week and was nearly presented during the Trofeo Joan Gamper match against Al Ahly, but he was told at the last moment that his documentation had not arrived in time.
Cancelo is the fifth summer reinforcement for Barcelona, joining Rodri, Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, and Jesse Bisiwu. The club is still seeking a center forward to replace Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. While the club attempted to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, that move failed because the other club refused to let the player leave. Barcelona begins its La Liga campaign this Sunday against Elche.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- The reporting emphasized the personal drama of the signing, including the player's frustration with the paperwork delay and his ultimatum to the sporting director.
- Centre
- The coverage focused on the factual details of the contract, the player's career history, and the club's broader transfer strategy.
Sources
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