Manchester City could sell player with 154 appearances and seven trophies for just £16.8 million | OneFootball

Officials at the Etihad Stadium have been issued with somewhat of a proposal from FC Barcelona over the future of one outcast player from Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad.

The latest emerging report around the Premier League champions once again concerns the long, drawn-out future of Joao Cancelo, who continues to be left out of Pep Guardiola’s plans at the Etihad Stadium.

The Portugal international has been excluded from first-team plans at Manchester City since the January transfer window of 2023, leaving the club on a six-month loan deal to Bayern Munich having fallen out of favour under Guardiola after the Qatar World Cup.

Manchester City and the club’s coaching staff appear to be content with their existing options in the position, with Kyle Walker and Rico Lewis viewed as the more traditional right-back options, and the likes of John Stones and Manuel Akanji acting as alternative back-ups.

As such, the Premier League giants continue to seek resolutions to the ongoing doubts over Cancelo’s future, despite the player’s clear intention to return and continue his career with FC Barcelona beyond the end of his recent 12-month loan stay.

According to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, FC Barcelona are floating the idea of a €20 million ‘commitment to buy’ for Joao Cancelo in the summer of 2025.

However, in order for Manchester City to consider such a remarkably low valuation on the Portugal international, the report states that the La Liga giants would still need to finance the 30-year-old’s entire loan fee and wages for the 2024/25 season.

Should Barcelona be unable to stump up a suitable offer for Joao Cancelo in the weeks that remain this summer, there is understood to be interest fielded by agent Jorge Mendes from Serie A and in the Saudi Pro League.

Cancelo is a player with a huge wealth of experience at the very top of European football, and at Manchester City recorded a commendable 154 appearances across all competitions, winning seven trophies in the process.

Barcelona continue to face a host of financial problems this summer, and have been unable to finance other deals involving Manchester City despite long-standing admiration and pursuits of an agreement from the player’s side.

Bernardo Silva has largely been available for purchase during the opening month of the ongoing summer market, with a £50 million release clause active in his contract. However, Barcelona in particular have been unable to meet such a valuation and have stepped aside.