Cancelo edges closer to his return to Barça with compensation still pending for Al Hilal

FC Barcelona

The deal is not being framed as a conventional transfer. Although Al Hilal could demand close to 10 million euros for Cancelo, the route being worked on involves terminating the final year of the contract that still ties the defender to the Saudi club, followed by his arrival at the Blaugrana side as a free agent.

Deco and Hansi Flick would thus see one of their wishes for strengthening the squad fulfilled. The player’s insistence, the role of Jorge Mendes and the good relationship between the two clubs have brought about a scenario that, weeks earlier, seemed more complicated. The Cancelo himself has already left the door open to any outcome with a line that sums up his situation: “Everything can happen; when I arrived they said he was finished”.

Al Hilal is looking for sporting compensation

According to 365Scores, the Barça and the Al Hilal are exploring some kind of arrangement to offset the Portuguese’s departure. It would not be about paying a fixed amount for his signing, but rather opening a path that could benefit the Saudi club in future operations.

The move has also been slowed by changes in the sporting leadership at Al Hilal. Richard Hughes is expected to take up the role in the coming days, and his arrival should unlock pending decisions both on the incoming and outgoing fronts.

Within that context, the Saudi club would have asked to explore names of players under Blaugrana control who fit into its squad reshaping. It is not the first time it has looked toward Barcelona: Raphinha and Marc Casadó have already been on its radar since last season, although neither has shown interest in the money or in the sporting project in Saudi Arabia.

Barça’s priority, meanwhile, is to complete the signing of Cancelo without a transfer fee. Flick would recover a versatile profile, able to play on both full-back flanks, after a season marked by constant problems in those positions.