Joao Cancelo undergoes medical examination and will be official tomorrow

FC Barcelona

The agreement was announced after Barcelona won the Super Cup against Real Madrid. After passing the medical evaluation, Cancelo will join to strengthen the right flank and to provide more solutions in defense.

The Portuguese international landed at El Prat on Monday to become the winter reinforcement that Hansi Flick's team was seeking. As previously anticipated, the official announcement of the deal was postponed until the conclusion of the Super Cup, won by Barcelona against Real Madrid. Cancelo, who played on loan in the 2023-24 season, now returns until June 30th on a loan from Al Hilal Saudi. Once he passes the medical examination, he will be presented this Tuesday at 1:00 p.m at the club's commercial office, beginning his second stint as a Barça player.

From the sports management side, Deco defended his arrival due to the immediate impact on the team: "he is a player who enhances the team's quality". According to the executive, it is not a debate about center-backs: "We are getting Ronald back and the coach has already said that with him, we have another center-back. Cancelo also allows Eric not to have to play as a full-back and, in times of need, for Koundé to act inside". This move, he emphasized, multiplies the solutions that the coach did not have before.

In terms of economics and administration, Deco insisted that the deal was possible due to a combination of circumstances: he was not registered, had an agreement to leave, and his willingness has always been clear. "He's a player who has always been crazy about Barça. *Whenever he comes, he takes a pay cut*, because of the charm of the club and because it fits with what we can do", highlighted the sports director.

Key points of the move

Cancelo's return adds hierarchy to the full-back position and frees up pieces in the defensive line. In Deco's words, Koundé can move inside when the situation requires it and Eric can avoid having to shift to the side. Additionally, the team incorporates a player with a profile of high competitive level for the decisive stretch of the season. This way, FC Barcelona strengthens its structure after the emotional boost of winning the Super Cup against Real Madrid.

With the presentation scheduled for this Tuesday, Cancelo will await the medical clearance and finalize the necessary procedures to become available. From there, the plan is to immediately integrate him into the training routine and capitalize on his versatility.