FC Barcelona are starting to organise their roadmap for the next summer market. After advancing the signings of Anthony Gordon and Hamza Abdelkarim, the club already have another operation almost closed. According to Marta Ramón on RAC1, João Cancelo has a very strong chance of staying in blaugrana.
The Portuguese full-back arrived on loan from Al-Hilal during the last winter market. Barça brought him in until the end of the season to reinforce a short and demanding defence. Since then, his performances and adaptation have strengthened the idea of keeping him.
The operation still needs a definitive formula with the Saudi club, who own his rights. However, inside Barça there is a fairly clear feeling about his continuity. Cancelo wants to stay, Hansi Flick values him and Deco considers him a useful piece for the squad.
Cancelo fits the plan
Cancelo’s great value lies in his ability to cover several defensive needs. He can play as a right-back, left-back and also step inside during build-up. That versatility makes him a very valuable solution for Flick.
Barça already knew him from his first loan spell during the 2023-24 season. Back then, he left good numbers, attacking presence, experience and the ability to appear in the opposition half. His return confirmed that he still had a place in a team full of young players.
Now, his continuity is viewed as a logical and financially controlled move. It would not be a media-heavy signing, but it would be a strategic decision to sustain the squad. It would also avoid Barça having to enter the market for another immediate-impact full-back at a high cost.
The defence depends on exits
Cancelo’s continuity also helps explain the rest of Barça’s plan. According to RAC1, the arrival of more reinforcements will depend heavily on important exits. If no key centre-back leaves, Barça will not necessarily activate another defensive operation.
The clearest case is Ronald Araújo, whose future could condition the whole market. If the Uruguayan were to leave, the club could then look for a top-level centre-back. In that scenario, physical and powerful profiles capable of defending large spaces would gain strength.
Without an exit of that kind, the priority will remain in other areas of the squad. Barça want to reinforce the attack and close operations that raise the team’s competitive ceiling. That is why Cancelo fits as useful continuity, not as a major unexpected outlay.
Flick gains an immediate solution
Flick has asked for a squad better prepared to compete throughout the entire season. The calendar will be demanding and Barça need players capable of operating in different contexts. Cancelo offers exactly that: experience, range, technique and tactical reading from the full-back positions.
His presence would allow the club to manage the physical load of Koundé and Balde better during the campaign. It would also provide alternatives when the team need more attacking full-backs. In closed matches, his ability to generate advantages could be especially important.
The Portuguese does not arrive as a promise or a future bet, but as a proven resource. That difference is key for a Barça squad that will already have several young players carrying major weight. Flick needs emerging talent, but also footballers used to competing under pressure.
The market already has a roadmap
Barça are starting to have a fairly clear map for this summer. First, close strategic signings such as Gordon and Hamza Abdelkarim to strengthen both present and future. Then, secure useful continuities like Cancelo’s to avoid opening more problems.
The arrival of more defenders will depend on whether important players leave in the coming weeks. If Araújo stays, the club could prioritise attack, midfield and specific adjustments. If he leaves, the search for a centre-back would immediately move to the front.
That is why Cancelo’s continuity matters more than it might initially seem. It does not only keep a valued player, but also prevents spending in another complicated position. And that is the twist: after Gordon and Hamza, Barça’s third signing could be a key continuity.
Discover more from Barça Buzz
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
