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Barcelona have agreed a loan deal to re-sign Joao Cancelo from Al Hilal but are deliberately delaying the Portuguese defender’s arrival until after Sunday’s Spanish Supercup final against Real Madrid. The club want to avoid any distractions from the El Clasico showpiece, with the signing to be completed on Monday followed by his presentation on Tuesday.
Barcelona Postpone Joao Cancelo Return Until After Spanish Supercup Final
The Portuguese full-back will return to Barcelona 18 months after his previous spell at the club, with a loan agreement already finalised with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. President Joan Laporta led Barcelona’s decisive move for Cancelo, who had signalled his intention to rejoin the Catalan club upon learning of his departure from the Saudi Arabian outfit.
Cancelo was also pursued by former club Inter, but Barcelona moved quickly to secure his services for the second half of the 2025-26 season. The deal was completely agreed earlier this week between Barcelona and Al Hilal, though the player has not yet undergone medical tests or arrived in Catalonia as both club and player want the Supercup final to take centre stage.
Barcelona’s plan involves completing all formalities on Monday, with Cancelo set to be presented as the club’s latest signing on Tuesday alongside Laporta, who will travel back from Saudi Arabia after the Real Madrid clash. The deliberate timing ensures no attention is diverted from Sunday’s showpiece final in the Spanish Supercup.
Provided he is registered in time with La Liga, Cancelo could make his second Barcelona debut when the club face Real Racing Club de Santander in the Copa del Rey on Thursday. His league debut could come in next weekend’s trip to Real Sociedad, while his Spotify Camp Nou homecoming is likely to occur the following week when Real Oviedo visit Catalonia.
The 30-year-old defender will bolster Hansi Flick’s squad options for the remainder of the season, with Barcelona currently leading La Liga. Cancelo’s return represents a significant addition to the squad depth as Barcelona compete across multiple competitions in the second half of the campaign.
