According to the latest report of the authoritative Spanish sports media "Mundo Deportivo", Barcelona Football Club (referred to as "Barcelona") has encountered a major obstacle in the introduction of Manchester City defender João Cancelo. The media pointed out that although Barcelona is in urgent need of strengthening the position of the wing back, and has been regarded as the main attraction target of Cancelo, but the team can not afford to pay the Manchester City side of the transfer of Cancelo's asking price.
Specifically, Manchester City wants Barcelona to activate the release clause in Cancelo's contract to complete the transfer, but the cost is far beyond Barcelona's current financial capacity. This predicament has caused Barcelona to reach a stalemate in the negotiations to introduce Cancelo.
However, it is worth noting that Saudi club Riyadh Crescent have expressed a keen interest in Cancelo and are willing to pay the transfer fee demanded by Manchester City. This news certainly adds a new variable to Cancelo's future.
For Cancelo himself, it is clear that he wants to find a solution as soon as possible. The 30-year-old Portuguese defender performed well during his loan spell at Barcelona by City last season, making 42 appearances for the team and contributing four goals and five assists. His contract with City is still a few years away, but given his stellar performances at Barcelona, he is likely to want to continue his career at a club that can give him more playing opportunities.
As a result, Cancelo's future destination has become a major focus in the transfer market. Will Barcelona be able to raise enough money to complete the transfer by other means? Or will Cancelo choose to join Riyadh Crescent to continue his career? All these questions will be answered in the coming days.
