Manchester City make Joao Cancelo demands clear as Barcelona made aware of player’s intentions | OneFootball

Joao Cancelo is intent on re-joining FC Barcelona this summer following a season-long loan deal with the La Liga giants, new reports have detailed.

The outcast Manchester City defender has been excluded from Pep Guardiola’s first-team plans for well over a year now, having first been removed from the senior set-up at the Etihad Stadium after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The Catalan coach reshaped his Manchester City squad in a move that would ultimately win the club a historic Treble and a first-ever UEFA Champions League crown, utilising the likes of Rico Lewis and John Stones in an inverted full-back set-up.

As such, Joao Cancelo was deemed surplus to requirements and a move to Bayern Munich on a six-month loan deal would ensue, with the German giants going on to reject the chance to purchase the player permanently for a then-asking price of around €70 million.

That fee has been driven down substantially this summer, following a second successive loan spell for Cancelo, this time with FC Barcelona, who are now intent on retaining the player’s services beyond the ongoing market.

However, according to new information provided by reliable journalist Alex Pintanel, as translated and relayed by Reshad Rahman, Manchester City have no intention of loaning out Joao Cancelo once again this summer.

It is explained that the Premier League champions would rather a permanent sale for the Portugal international, with his former club FC Barcelona made aware of the Etihad side’s intentions for the 30-year-old.

On the subject of how much Manchester City would demand for the player, the report claims that they would be open to offers of around €20 million to €30 million, with Cancelo himself preferring to stay at Barcelona in next season.

It remains to be seen whether Barcelona can secure the necessary finances to fund a permanent agreement for Joao Cancelo this summer, having already removed themselves from the pursuit of Bernardo Silva earlier this window.

The Manchester City playmaker opened himself up to an Etihad Stadium exit for a fourth successive market in recent weeks, but a lack of finances across the game for a player of his age despite his outstanding capabilities means he is likely to remain in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Should Joao Cancelo leave Manchester City in the coming weeks and months, it is highly unlikely that the club would look for a direct replacement, with coaching staff feeling as though they have enough within their roster to cope without his services.