How Marc Casado could help Barcelona keep Joao Cancelo

Barcelona’s pursuit of a permanent deal for Joao Cancelo may hinge on the future of academy product Marc Casado, according to a report in Mundo Deportivo. With the international break amplifying transfer chatter, Casado’s name has resurfaced in connection with a €20 million move to Saudi Arabia, a valuation that could prove pivotal in negotiations for the Portuguese full-back.

Cancelo’s loan from Manchester City expires in June, and while Barcelona want him to remain at the Camp Nou beyond that date, Al-Hilal—who currently hold his registration—are demanding €15 million to sanction a transfer. Barça, constrained by financial considerations, are exploring creative solutions to bridge that gap, and Casado has emerged as a potential makeweight.

The 20-year-old midfielder, valued at €5 million more than Al-Hilal’s asking price for Cancelo, has started only sparingly for the first team. Mundo Deportivo outline a scenario in which the Saudis express concrete interest in Casado, opening the door to a swap arrangement that would see Cancelo remain in Catalonia while the La Masia graduate heads to the Middle East.

Casado has previously spoken of his dream to spend his entire career at Barcelona, yet he recognises the fierce competition for minutes in a squad brimming with talent. The report notes that a “round trip” to the Saudi Pro League—similar to the paths taken by Gabri Veiga and Aymeric Laporte—could tempt the player if it ultimately accelerates his return to elite European football.

Any deal remains contingent on Casado’s willingness to leave his boyhood club, and no formal offer has been tabled. Nonetheless, Barcelona’s hierarchy view the midfielder’s market value as an unexpected lever that could help them secure Cancelo’s long-term future without meeting Al-Hilal’s cash valuation outright.