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Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has given his approval for Joao Cancelo’s return to the club on loan from Al Hilal for the remainder of the season, with the German coach believing the Portugal international will provide crucial defensive depth across multiple positions and strong competition for his current full-backs.
Hansi Flick Approves Joao Cancelo’s Barcelona Return to Strengthen Defence
Flick signed off on the deal after determining that his squad now has good depth across the board in the defensive department. The versatile defender is capable of covering both full-back positions, which means Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde will face strong competition for their starting places when Cancelo joins up with the squad in the coming days.
The Portuguese defender’s arrival also opens up tactical flexibility for Flick, who can now consider using Kounde in a central defensive role for the first time since taking over from Xavi Hernandez 18 months ago. This positional switch would provide Barcelona with additional options in their defensive setup as they continue their La Liga campaign as current leaders.
Cancelo’s return confirms Gerard Martin’s permanent switch to a centre-back role, with the Portugal international now serving as Balde’s primary competition at left-back. This tactical reshuffle becomes particularly important given that Barcelona will not bring in a specialist central defender this month, despite Flick having requested one behind closed doors from the club’s hierarchy.
Inter had been favourites to sign Cancelo when he became available from Al Hilal, but the 30-year-old always prioritised a return to Catalonia. Barcelona were well-placed to secure his signature once the deal was deemed financially viable, with the loan arrangement allowing them to strengthen their squad without significant immediate outlay during the January transfer window.
