Barcelona move for forgotten Man City star as Pep Guardiola transfer wish hits the rocks

Posted Tuesday, July 30, 2024 by Dailystar.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE Barcelona are keen on bringing Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo back for a second successive season on-loan from Manchester City this summer

Barcelona move for forgotten Man City star as Pep Guardiola transfer wish hits the rocks
Joao Cancelo spent last season on loan with Barcelona (Image: Getty Images)

Barcelona have launched a new offer to land Manchester City outcast Joao Cancelo.

This time the bid combines the Spanish club taking the Portugal ace on loan for a second successive season - before committing to buy him outright next summer. Barcelona had hoped to secure a permanent £25million move for Cancelo, 30, in the current window.

However, with their finances still in a total mess, the hard-up Catalans have conceded defeat in raising the funds required - for now. Instead, they have come up with a fresh proposal, in which they pay the English champions a £7m loan fee for 2024-25, with the obligation of an £18m transfer at the end of it.

Crucially, the La Liga outfit will also take care of Cancelo’s contract rather than City subsidise part of his £150,000-a-week salary - as happened previously. Those terms should appeal to the Etihad hierarchy, given there is no chance of a reconciliation between Pep Guardiola and the versatile defender.

Cancelo fell out of favour back in December 2022 after suddenly being axed by Spanish coach Guardiola. That led to a five-month loan spell in Germany at Bayern Munich before he was farmed out to the Nou Camp the following season.

One danger to Barcelona re-signing Cancelo is if City receive an offer from elsewhere matching their £25m valuation of the left-back. They would prefer to sell in this window and recoup a chunk of their original £60m outlay on the former-Juventus and Valencia man.

Juventus and fellow-Serie A outfit Inter Milan are showing an interest, although both need Cancelo to take a hefty pay-cut. And, of course, there is always the possibility of a switch to the loaded Saudi Pro League, where his wages and transfer price would not be an issue.