MX23RW : Friday, November 8 04:14:58| >> :120:19616:19616:

Barcelona transfer news: Catalan giants 'determined' to sign Man City star

Priority signing: Barcelona 'determined' to sign Man City star this summer
© Reuters
Barcelona reportedly view Joao Cancelo as a priority signing this summer, with the defender impressing on loan at the club from Manchester City last season.

Barcelona reportedly view Joao Cancelo as a priority signing this summer, but the Catalan giants are unlikely to be able to acquire the Manchester City defender on a permanent basis.

Cancelo, 30, spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Barcelona, representing the club on 42 occasions in all competitions, contributing four goals and five assists in the process.

The Portugal international was brought to the Catalan side as a right-back, but he played a lot of football at left-back last term due to Alejandro Balde's season-ending injury.

As it stands, Cancelo will be back in pre-season training with Man City later this month, but the defender is not believed to be in the long-term plans of head coach Pep Guardiola.

The full-back spent the second half of the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Bayern Munich after a fall-out with Guardiola, and Man City are believed to be keen to sell him this summer.

Portugal's Joao Cancelo shoots at goal on June 4, 2024© Reuters

Barcelona 'want Cancelo to stay at Camp Nou'

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona remain determined to sign Cancelo on another loan deal due to their financial issues, but Man City are thought to want a permanent exit.

As a result, the Catalan outfit could be forced to look elsewhere for a new full-back if they are unable to agree another short-term move for the Portuguese.

Cancelo joined Man City from Juventus in 2019, and he has represented the Citizens on 154 occasions in all competitions, winning three Premier League titles and one EFL Cup.

The defender made 26 appearances for the English club in the first half of the 2022-23 campaign, but he was allowed to leave for Bayern in the early stages of 2023.

Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo on September 23, 2023© Reuters

How did Cancelo perform at Barcelona last season?

Cancelo was a key player for Barcelona during the 2023-24 campaign, featuring on 42 occasions, with 32 of those appearances coming in La Liga, while he also played 10 times in the Champions League.

The defender contributed two goals and four assists in Spain's top flight last term, while he managed two goals and one assist in the Champions League.

Cancelo's ability to play as both a right-back and a left-back made him even more important for Barcelona last season when Balde picked up a season-ending injury.

The Portuguese played as a wing-back in his country's opening game of Euro 2024, and he certainly gives Barcelona more flexibility when it comes to possible formation changes next season under their new manager Hansi Flick.

However, unless Man City are willing to accept another loan deal, it seems that the La Liga giants may be forced to look at alternatives this summer.

ID:547396:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4610:

Click here for more stories about Alejandro Balde

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Barcelona's Raphinha and Ronald Araujo during the warm up before the match on September 23, 2023
Read Next:
Three La Liga players who could join Premier League clubs this summer
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Bengals
@
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!