Joao Cancelo 'closing in' on Barcelona move as talks with Manchester City progress

Manchester City's Joao Cancelo during pre-season in summer 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo is closing in on a move to Barcelona.

The Portuguese right-back fell out with City manager Pep Guardiola last season and was sent to Bayern Munich on loan.

And although he returned to the Etihad in pre-season after his loan in Germany came to an end, the 29-year-old is not part of Guardiola's plans and has always been expected to leave the Premier League champions before the end of the transfer window.

According to Fabrizio Romano, City and Barcelona have been in advanced talks over a deal, which could be announced this week.

Barcelona have been interested in Cancelo for a while and the player is understood to be a keen on a return to LaLiga, where he previously played for Valencia.

His signing would allow centre-back Jules Kounde to play more regularly in his natural position, with the Frenchman having often operated on the right since signing from Sevilla last year.

Cancelo could move initially on loan, with a view to a permanent transfer in future.

However, the Portuguese has already represented a host of top European clubs in a chaotic career, with spells at Benfica, Valencia, Inter, Juventus, City and Bayern already.

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Manchester City have been linked with a move for Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies. But doubts remain over the future of Bernardo Silva, amid talk that he wants to join Barcelona.

Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.