Barcelona ready to fly top defensive target early next week as summer transfer nears – Romano

Barcelona could be only days away from bringing Joao Cancelo back to the club for a third spell, with the Portuguese defender working towards an exit from Al Hilal.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona are prepared to fly Cancelo to the city early next week once Al Hilal give the final approval for his departure. 

The Blaugrana are increasingly confident that the situation will be resolved soon, with the player himself pushing to complete his return.

The Barcelona transfer news regarding the defender suggests that Cancelo’s future could be settled through the termination of his contract with the Saudi Pro League side. 

Discussions involving the player, his representatives and Al Hilal are understood to be ongoing as all parties attempt to find a solution.

The financial side of the Joao Cancelo transfer has been one of the main issues during negotiations.

Cancelo has no place in Simone Inzaghi’s squad. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Barcelona and Al Hilal had reportedly appeared to be moving towards a deal worth around €10 million. 

However, the Saudi side then raised their asking price to €15 million, creating fresh uncertainty over how the transfer would be completed.

That situation now appears to have opened the door to another route, and Barcelona are ready to act if the Saudi club formally clears the way. 

Internally, the Catalan giants are hopeful of completing the necessary paperwork and bringing the Portuguese international back to Barcelona within the coming days.

As far as Cancelo is concerned, the defender’s position at the Saudi club has also strengthened Barcelona’s belief that a solution can be found. 

Notably, he was left out of Al Hilal’s matchday squad for their opening league fixture, while Simone Inzaghi has indicated that the player’s future is ultimately a matter for the club to resolve. 

Cancelo is close to returning to Barcelona. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

This would mark Cancelo’s third chapter at Barcelona after his earlier spell and his loan return during the second half of the 2025-26 campaign. 

His latest stint gave Hansi Flick another experienced option across both full-back positions, with the Barcelona coach previously highlighting the Portuguese player’s quality and attacking strength.

There will always be questions about Cancelo’s defensive consistency, particularly against the strongest opposition. However, his technical ability and versatility give Barcelona something different.

A player capable of operating on both sides of the defence can be especially useful over a long season, particularly for a squad competing across several competitions.

For Hansi Flick, Cancelo would not be an unknown signing requiring months to settle, as he already knows the environment, and his previous spell showed that he can provide an attacking threat from deep positions.

If Barcelona can complete the deal on favourable terms, Cancelo’s return could prove to be a sensible piece of business rather than a risky transfer gamble.