When Joao Cancelo was on the move in the January transfer window, Barcelona were one of the clubs with an interest in him.
The Manchester Evening News report that Manchester City initially offered Cancelo to Barcelona, but later turned the Catalan club down.
Sources indicate this was because Barcelona weren’t willing to cover all of the finances involved. Bayern Munich were, so they got the deal done instead.
Barcelona are now one of the clubs being linked with a summer move for Cancelo, along with Arsenal, but once again their financial situation is a major obstacle.
Spanish outlet SPORT report that Barcelona can only afford to offer Cancelo another loan move, whilst City are prioritising a permanent sale.
The player is also opposed to another loan, and his agent Jorge Mendes is open to an offer from Arsenal. Even on loan, Barcelona reportedly want Cancelo to take a pay cut.
Gianluca Di Marzio recently claimed he doesn’t believe Pep Guardiola will stand in the way of Cancelo’s transfer to Arsenal, though you’d suspect City might be wary of giving their rivals any assistance this summer.
Fabrizio Romano broke the news on Monday that Bayern Munich won’t trigger their €70m option to buy in Joao Cancelo’s contract, with Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sport Germany confirming the update.
But Cancelo is also unlikely to return to Manchester City, with Romano adding that City are “ready to sell” the full-back this summer.
Romano claims Arsenal appreciate the defender, and he’s one of the names on their summer shortlist.
The Gunners are looking to strengthen in the left-back position, and though Cancelo is still under contract at City until 2027, his alleged fall-out with Pep Guardiola in January makes it hard to see them hanging onto him.
The Evening Standard write that in the current economic climate, City may have to accept that the Premier League remains the best market for selling.
All of City’s major sales last summer were within the Premier League, selling Jesus and Zinchenko to Arsenal and Raheem Sterling to Chelsea.
Cancelo scored three goals and assisted 10 in 47 appearances this season, the same goal contribution tallies that he hit in the previous campaign with City in the Premier League.
