Barcelona set for talks with Manchester City over Joao Cancelo transfer
Barcelona will be meeting with Manchester City next week to arrange a permanent transfer for Joao Cancelo. The 30-year-old defender has been out of Pep Guardiola’s plans for more than a year and is ready for a new start.
Cancelo, who was sidelined at City after the 2022 FIFA World Cup, saw his opportunities reduce as Rico Lewis established and Kyle Walker remained in excellent form.
This decision helped Manchester City complete a historic treble, which included a thrilling UEFA Champions League win over Inter Milan.
Interestingly, Cancelo faced his parent club while on loan at Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of that season.
Considering his contributions, Bayern Munich chose not to execute Cancelo’s buy-option, leading to Barcelona to sign him on a season-long loan last summer.
Now, the Catalan giants are eager to make the change permanent. According to City source ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, Barcelona officials are going to talk about the deal next week, with the goal of completing terms quickly.
Barcelona, facing financial difficulties, has proposed a £20 million transfer fee, and Cancelo has agreed to a considerable pay cut, reducing his weekly earnings by £50,000. This determination shows both parties’ commitment to the transfer.
Manchester City, meanwhile, do not plan to seek a direct replacement for Cancelo. Pep Guardiola is confident in his current full-back options.
However, the club remains open to market opportunities, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong reportedly on their radar.
Kyle Walker, amid interest from Saudi Arabia and potential renewed attention from Bayern Munich, looks set to stay at Manchester City for the 2024/25 season. He could continue to captain the team following their Premier League triumph last season.
The upcoming talks will be crucial for both clubs as they navigate the complexities of modern football transfers and player management.
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