- The 30-year-old is believed to have fallen out with Pep Guardiola in late 2022
- After spending half-a-season at Bayern Munich, player spent last term at Barca
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Joao Cancelo may have torpedoed his chances of a second loan at Barcelona due to the Manchester City player’s high wage demands and his presence in the dressing room, according to reports in Spain.
The defender had booked back-to-back loan spells away from the Etihad after falling out of favour with Pep Guardiola in 2022, moving first to Bayern Munich, then to the LaLiga side last season.
But rather than extending his spell in Catalonia, the Portugal international returned to his parent club to take part in pre-season.
While Guardiola has refused to rule out his participation in the Man City set-up going forward, Cancelo did not feature in the club’s pre-season preparations, nor in their first competitive fixture against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
However, while Barcelona have not definitively closed the door on Cancelo’s return, the Spanish club have doubts about a number of key obstacles to a second loan spell.
Joao Cancelo is still on Barcelona’s radar for a second spell but there are a number of issues
The Portugal international has been a misfit at Man City since falling out with Pep Guardiola
But Cancelo’s eye-watering wage demands could yet keep him out at the cash-strapped club
As per SPORT, the cash-strapped club are thought to be turned off by his monumental £11.9million (€14m) annual salary.
The 30-year-old accepted a wage reduction in a bid to secure the move at the start of the 2023-24 season, but is not believed to be interested in doing so for a second term.
Barcelona remain subject to a strict salary cap amid their financial constraints, and are thought to be unwilling to offer Cancelo a salary any higher than he received during their last campaign.
Instead, the Blaugrana’s financial priorities are focused on the registration of a number of players including landmark summer signing Dani Olmo.
In June, Mail Sport reported that the club were yet to register nine senior players including Euro 2024 breakout star Lamine Yamal due to their dire financial straits.
Beyond issues over his salary, Barcelona chiefs are also thought to be hesitating due to doubts both on the pitch and over his behaviour behind the scenes.
Barcelona are thought to be still struggling over player registration – including for new signing Dani Olmo
The 30-year-old conceded a vital penalty with a foul on Ousmane Dembele in Champions League action last season
Concern is thought to have been raised by Cancelo’s performance in the second-leg of Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, which saw Kylian Mbappe and Co come back from a first-leg deficit to romp away with the tie 4-1 (agg. 6-4).
Cancelo’s foul on Ousmane Dembele handed the visitors a penalty which helped the French champions gain firm footing at the Estadi Olimpic de Lluis Companys.
Beyond his performances, however, there is also reportedly a question mark over his attitude in the locker room, with Barcelona thought to be frustrated by his behaviour when he was left out of the starting XI.
The fitness and form of Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde on the right and left could keep Cancelo relegated to the bench on a regular basis this season, with both players Hansi Flick’s preferred options in the positions.
Hansi Flick (pictured) has identified Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde as his preferred options
The player will also have to do without the support of Joao Felix (left) in the dressing room
Cancelo is also not thought to have impressed either the dressing room big beasts or the youth contingent, and has lost a key ally in his compatriot Joao Felix.
Felix spent last season on loan at Barcelona too, but made the permanent move to Chelsea on Monday after protracted negotiations between the west London club and Atletico Madrid – in part involving Conor Gallagher’s departure in the opposite direction.
Should Cancelo fail to return to the Spanish top flight, a move to Saudi Arabia is one of the options in the mix for the outcast full back.
Mail Sport reported on Sunday that both Cancelo and Walker were of interest to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, following the departure of Saud Abdulhamid to Roma.
