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Former Manchester City defender João Cancelo is set to return to Barcelona on loan from Al-Hilal until the end of the season. The 31-year-old Portuguese full-back passed a medical on Monday and is expected to be officially announced by the club on Tuesday.
Cancelo previously spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Barcelona after a six-month stint with Bayern Munich in Germany. During his first period at Barcelona, he made 42 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals and providing five assists, earning praise for his attacking contributions from the right-back position and his ability to influence games in both attack and defense. His performances helped the Catalan side maintain a competitive edge in La Liga and European competitions.
Following his loan spell, Cancelo made a permanent move away from Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in a £21.2 million transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. However, his time in Saudi Arabia was limited, as he made just two league appearances in the current season before agreeing to return to Europe. His brief spell at Al-Hilal did not allow him to maintain the same level of match rhythm or impact that he displayed in his
previous European campaigns, making the loan move back to Barcelona a timely opportunity to regain form and contribute at a high level.
Barcelona are preparing for a busy week of fixtures, with a Copa del Rey clash against Racing de Santander on Thursday, followed by a La Liga visit to Real Sociedad on Sunday. Cancelo's return will bolster the team's defensive options and offer flexibility in attack, given his experience and attacking instincts from full-back. His familiarity with Barcelona's style of play, gained during his previous loan, should allow him to integrate quickly and provide immediate impact for manager Xavi.
Cancelo's combination of experience in top European leagues, versatility to play on either flank, and attacking prowess makes him a valuable addition to Barcelona's squad. His return is expected to strengthen the defense while also adding creativity and width in forward positions. For a team competing on multiple fronts, his presence could prove crucial as Barcelona aim to maintain their title challenge in La Liga and make deep runs in domestic and European cup competitions.
