João Cancelo joins FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona and Manchester City have reached an agreement with Manchester City for the loan of João Cancelo until 30 June 2024. There is no option for a permanent transfer.
The Club wishes to thank the player publicly for the financial effort made and his desire to wear the Barça shirt.
A career with big clubs
Cancelo has experience is several big-name clubs across Europe, amongst them five European Champions. From the town of Barreiro, just across the river from Lisbon, the defender started his career with Benfica where he won the league, the domestic cup and league cup as well as a Super Cup.
La Liga club Valencia spotted his potential and his three seasons in Spanish Football proved they were not wrong to sign the right back. Cancelo then moved on to Italy where he spent a season at Internazionale and another at Juventus. In 2019 he made the move to the Premier League and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City where he spent a total of three and a half seasons, having played the final half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan at German giants Bayern Munich.
The flash is here! ⚡ pic.twitter.com/gdwYQB3s27
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 1, 2023
A complete full back
Xavi Hernández is well aware that João Cancelo is much more than your average right back. Like Alejandro Balde on the left, the Portuguese defender is as happy getting forward as he is defending.
With experience, he has also developed the ability to play at left back and even in midfield, something he did on more than one occasion at Manchester City. Barça have signed a right back and a whole lot more.