In a strategic move, Barcelona has decided to grant Joao Cancelo and his agent, Jorge Mendes, a renewed opportunity to pursue a loan deal for the upcoming season. However, the Catalan club has set a clear deadline and imposed a time limit for finalizing the deal. Despite this, negotiations with Manchester City, Cancelo’s current club, have proven to be formidable, making his departure uncertain. Cancelo himself is reportedly considering taking a firm stance and focusing solely on Barcelona’s offer to ensure a favorable outcome.
The revival of the Cancelo option by Barcelona occurred in response to the dwindling prospects of negotiating for Villarreal’s Juan Foyth. After discussions with Mateu Alemany, who engaged with Villarreal over the matter, it became evident that Foyth was deemed non-transferable. Subsequently, Barcelona turned their attention back to Cancelo, with Jorge Mendes taking the lead in attempting to facilitate his exit from Manchester City.
Mendes had initially planned to leverage the final week of the transfer market, capitalizing on City’s urgency to offload the player. In contrast, Barcelona aims for a more measured approach, driven by the need to maintain financial flexibility for potential alternative signings. Mendes has been actively working alongside Cancelo to expedite his departure from Manchester, with the player himself becoming involved in the process.
Barcelona’s proposed loan arrangement includes a nominal loan fee that would be deducted from Cancelo’s wage bill. While the framework of the agreement appears feasible, City is mindful of their prior deal with Bayern Munich, which involved a fee of €5 million for a half-season loan. Consequently, City’s demands for Cancelo’s loan to Barcelona exceed the minimal fee, a point of contention between the two clubs.
The central challenge lies in City’s consideration of alternative offers for Cancelo, and their reluctance to lower their demands. However, a potential turning point could be Cancelo’s own assertive stance. Should he declare a preference for Barcelona and reject other offers, Manchester City would be compelled to make a pivotal decision. Anticipation mounts as Barcelona expects a definitive response from City in the upcoming week, although as of now, no confirmation has been received.
Barcelona’s Delicate Negotiation Dance with Manchester City Over Joao Cancelo Continues
The recent reactivation of the Cancelo option, triggered by Barcelona’s assessment that Villarreal was unyielding in discussions for Juan Foyth, has placed the Catalan club on a collision course with City’s negotiation stance.
Mateu Alemany’s meeting with Villarreal yielded the verdict that Foyth was not up for negotiation, prompting Barcelona’s renewed interest in Cancelo. Tasked with orchestrating Cancelo’s potential exit, Jorge Mendes stepped into the fray, initially planning to exploit City’s deadline-driven urgency. In contrast, Barcelona maintains a cautious approach, driven by the imperative to retain financial flexibility for other potential signings.
Barcelona’s proposed loan deal for Cancelo encompasses a modest loan fee to be offset against his wage expenses. While this arrangement seems reasonable to Barcelona, Manchester City’s expectations have been influenced by their prior agreement with Bayern Munich, involving a substantial €5 million fee for a half-season loan. This discrepancy in valuation has become a focal point of negotiations.
The crux of the matter lies in City’s steadfastness in upholding their demands and considering alternate offers for Cancelo. The pivotal factor that could sway the outcome is Cancelo’s own determination. Should he assert his desire to exclusively join Barcelona and disregard alternative propositions, Manchester City would confront a defining choice.
As the negotiation drama unfolds, all eyes are on City’s impending decision, which Barcelona expects to materialize in the upcoming week. The outcome remains uncertain, leaving both clubs and Cancelo himself in suspense as the clock ticks down on the transfer window.
