Barcelona told to fork out €15 million for veteran defender’s permanent signing

Barcelona’s hopes of retaining João Cancelo beyond the current campaign have hit a financial roadblock, with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal informing the Catalan club that a permanent deal for the 31-year-old will cost €15 million, according to reports circulated by Mundo Deportivo.

Cancelo, who re-joined Barça on a short-term loan in January after a previous spell at the club, has steadily climbed the pecking order under Hansi Flick, impressing with his versatility and attacking thrust. The uptick in form has fuelled speculation that the La Liga champions could seek to secure his services on a long-term basis this summer, and sources close to the dressing room indicate that Flick has already endorsed the idea.

Yet the economics of any transfer remain problematic for a club still operating under strict budgetary constraints. Barcelona’s official stance is that they will only pursue Cancelo if he becomes available as a free agent and agrees to a sizeable salary reduction. Al Hilal, however, are under no obligation to release the Portugal international without compensation: the defender remains tied to the Saudi club through 2027, and officials in Riyadh have slapped a €15 million valuation on the remaining year of his contract.

For the moment, Barcelona have not tabled an offer and continue to monitor Cancelo’s performances before committing to any course of action. Privately, the club is pressing for a contractual termination that would allow the right-back to leave Al Hilal on a free, thereby eliminating the need for an upfront fee. Al Hilal, conversely, are insistent on recouping at least a portion of their investment, leaving the two sides at an impasse.

Jorge Mendes, Cancelo’s representative, is expected to play a pivotal role in brokering a compromise. Any resolution will need to satisfy Al Hilal’s demand for remuneration while respecting Barcelona’s delicate wage structure, a balancing act that could determine whether the player’s second chapter in Catalonia becomes permanent.