Joao Cancelo Nears Manchester City Exit as Al Hilal Tables €104 Million Worth Deal
In a bold move that highlights the growing influence of the Saudi Pro League on global football, Al Hilal has submitted a staggering €104 million bid for Manchester City’s versatile defender, Joao Cancelo.
This bid marks the latest high-profile pursuit by Saudi Arabian clubs, who have been actively attracting top European talent in recent years.
Joao Cancelo, a key figure in Manchester City’s squad since his arrival in 2019, has not featured for the club since January 2023.
His last appearance came during a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, a match that would prove to be his final outing in a City shirt before a dramatic turn of events unfolded.
Following a training ground altercation at the City Football Academy, Cancelo found himself out of favor with manager Pep Guardiola. This led to loan spells at Bayern Munich and, more recently, FC Barcelona.
During the 2023/24 season, Cancelo spent the entire campaign with Barcelona, where he quickly became an integral part of Xavi’s squad.
The 30-year-old defender featured prominently in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, helping Barcelona secure a strong domestic and European presence.
Despite his successful stint in Catalonia, a permanent return to Barcelona now seems unlikely due to financial constraints and Barcelona’s current squad depth.
Cancelo’s return to Manchester City this summer has been shrouded in uncertainty. Although he has been training with the first team, he was notably absent from recent matchday squads for crucial fixtures against Manchester United and Chelsea.
Speculation had mounted that Cancelo was eyeing a permanent return to the Camp Nou, but with Barcelona seemingly out of the picture, the Saudi Pro League has emerged as the frontrunner for his signature.
The Saudi Pro League’s rise in prominence has been marked by its ability to lure top players from Europe with lucrative contracts.
Al Hilal’s bid for Cancelo, reported by Fabrizio Romano, is a clear indication of the league’s ambitions. According to Romano, negotiations are now underway between Al Hilal, Cancelo’s agent Jorge Mendes, and Manchester City officials.
The Portuguese full-back is Al Hilal’s “first choice,” and the club is so confident in securing his services that they are reportedly preparing to sell their current right-back, Saud Abdulhamid, to AS Roma.
The financial aspect of the deal is nothing short of eye-watering. If Cancelo agrees to the move, he could earn a staggering €66 million over three years.
This lucrative offer underscores the financial power of Saudi clubs and their determination to attract world-class talent to the Middle East.
The total value of the deal, including the transfer fee, would exceed €100 million, making it one of the most expensive transfers in recent memory.
Should the transfer go through, Cancelo would become Manchester City’s third player to move to Saudi Arabia, following the departures of Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte last summer.
This trend of high-profile exits to the Saudi Pro League is a testament to the growing allure of the region’s footballing landscape.
For Cancelo, the move to Al Hilal represents not only a new chapter in his career but also a significant shift in the footballing world.
As Saudi Arabia continues to make its mark on the global stage, the acquisition of a player of Cancelo’s caliber further solidifies the country’s ambitions to become a major player in world football.
Joao Cancelo Nears Manchester City Exit as Al Hilal Tables €104 Million Worth Deal