Is João Cancelo worth keeping on a permanent deal for Barcelona next season?

Barcelona’s 5-2 dismantling of Sevilla at Camp Nou on Sunday kept the Catalans four points clear at the summit of La Liga, yet beneath the glow of Raphinha’s hat-trick another storyline gathered momentum: João Cancelo’s audacious audition for a long-term future in blaugrana.

Operating from his familiar right-back berth, the Portuguese international required only 60 minutes to tilt the match. Twice he darted behind Sevilla’s back line and was hauled down, earning penalties that set the tone. Then, on the hour mark, he collected possession near the halfway line, slalomed past three defenders and arrowed a left-footed finish into the far top corner, sealing a personal masterpiece that had Camp Nou on its feet.

The display was the latest in a growing portfolio of evidence that the 29-year-old loanee has outgrown the temporary tag. With Alejandro Balde’s future uncertain, Barcelona hierarchy must weigh whether Cancelo’s immediate impact justifies converting the loan into a permanent arrangement.

Financial constraints are no secret at the club, yet the full-back’s versatility, experience and game-changing capacity present a persuasive counter-argument. Sunday’s evidence suggests the question is shifting from “Can they afford him?” to “Can they afford to let him go?”