Barcelona have completed the signing of Joao Cancelo on a free transfer, with the Portugal defender agreeing a three-year contract at Camp Nou after ending his deal with Al-Hilal by mutual consent.
The move represents Cancelo’s first permanent agreement with the Blaugrana, having previously spent two separate periods at the club on loan. His latest spell came during the second half of last season, when he helped Barcelona retain the LaLiga title for a second successive year.
Cancelo, now 32, has made 65 appearances for Barcelona across his two loan spells. He has scored six goals and contributed eight assists during that time.
The defender said his desire to return to Barcelona had remained unchanged, despite a difficult period while his future was being resolved.
“My love for Barca has always been the same, and I’m very happy to be here,” said Cancelo.
“The difference is that my first season here left me with a bittersweet feeling. I couldn’t win any titles. Last season, however, I was able to do so and fulfil a childhood dream. I still had the league title to win.
“It’s been a difficult few weeks, but I was clear about what I wanted. The only other possibility was that I would have stayed at Al-Hilal for a year without playing because my only goal was to return to Barca.
“My representatives knew that I only wanted to play here.
“A club like Barca has to be prepared to win everything. We’re going for the Champions League, obviously. We’re going to do everything possible to win the Champions League.”
Cancelo will now link up again with Rodri, his former Manchester City team-mate, at Barcelona. The pair played 134 matches together during their time at City, winning 97 of those games. They recorded 17 draws and 20 defeats, while City conceded an average of 0.8 goals per match when both players featured.
Cancelo described Rodri as one of the outstanding players he has worked with and welcomed his ability to influence matches in all areas of the pitch.
“Rodri is one of the best players I’ve played with in my career,” added Cancelo.
“He’s a player who contributes a lot both offensively and defensively. He’s here to help; I’ve had a good relationship with him since our time at City.
“He’s very easy to play with, and he’s here to help Barca. It’s important that players who want to be here are with us.”
Cancelo’s arrival gives Barcelona a player already familiar with the club, having returned for a second loan spell last season and played a part in their latest LaLiga success. His permanent transfer completes the process of bringing him back to Camp Nou after two temporary agreements.
