Barcelona certain about keeping on-loan star, in constant contact with agent – Romano

Barcelona have made it clear they want Joao Cancelo to remain at the club beyond the current campaign, with talks already under way between the Catalan giants and the Portuguese full-back’s representative, Jorge Mendes.

Cancelo, 31, re-joined Barça in January on a short-term loan from Al Hilal and, after a measured introduction by coach Hansi Flick, has evolved into a regular starter, thriving in particular at left-back. His recent performances culminated in another influential display during the weekend’s 2-1 victory over Atlletico Madrid, underlining the defender’s growing importance to the squad.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona’s hierarchy are absolutely convinced that Cancelo’s future should lie at Camp Nou, and the player shares that sentiment. The club’s sporting department is therefore maintaining daily dialogue with Mendes to explore every avenue that would allow Cancelo to stay without compromising the club’s delicate wage structure.

Financial prudence remains paramount. La Liga’s reigning champions have identified other priority reinforcements for the summer window and are determined to avoid overspending on a permanent deal. With twelve months remaining on Cancelo’s Al Hilal contract, Barcelona’s preferred scenario is to secure his services on a free transfer, a development that would require the defender to negotiate a termination with the Saudi outfit.

Equally, the Portuguese international will need to accept a reduced salary to fit within Barcelona’s salary-cap limitations. Despite these hurdles, both parties are aligned in their desire to prolong the partnership, setting the stage for what promises to be a complex but targeted negotiation over the coming months.