Man City agreed to loan Barca Cancelo

Cancelo is expected to undergo a medical examination today, August 29, to complete the procedures to join Barca. According to Spanish media, Barca will not have to pay the loan fee for Cancelo, there is even an option to buy the Portuguese defender outright. Man City give in in this case because the 29-year-old defender is no longer in the plan of coach Pep Guardiola.

Cancelo was on loan at Bayern for the second half of last season, after falling out with Guardiola. He scored one goal in 21 matches for the German club, but was not kept by them.

Barca are in need of a right-back like Cancelo, because they often have to push midfielder Jules Kounde to the wing to play this position, and captain Sergi Roberto is in decline. The Portugal international can also play on the left, but that position is already occupied by Marcos Alonso or Alejandro Balde.

Cancelo won Serie A with Juventus, the Premier League with Man City and the Bundesliga with Bayern. He could aim for a fourth title in Europe's top five leagues, should Barca win La Liga this season.

With Cancelo, coach Xavi Hernandez can bring Kounde back to the central position next to Ronald Araujo. Barca can also switch to a three-centre system, helping Cancelo and Alonso to play higher to promote their ability to support the attack.

Cancelo can become the 11th Portuguese player to play for Barca, most recently striker Francisco Trincao in the 2020-2021 season but he only scored three goals in 42 matches. The longest Portuguese player with Barca is Luis Figo, for five years from 1995-2000, with two La Liga titles.

Deco was also successful at Barca during 2004-2008, notably winning the Champions League in 2006. He is also Barca's sporting director, and is involved in transfer deals like with Cancelo.