Manchester City are reportedly considering selling a player who has been regarded as the best in his position globally, and Barcelona seems eager to capitalize on this opportunity with a surprisingly low offer, as per a report.
Under Pep Guardiola’s management, Manchester City has seen the departure of several high-profile players in recent years. Despite the exits of players like Aymeric Laporte, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, and Gabriel Jesus, the team has continued to thrive.
One of the notable departures is Joao Cancelo, a versatile full-back.
There have been reports of a rift between the Portuguese player and Guardiola, leading to Cancelo being loaned out to Bayern Munich for the latter part of the previous season, which came as a shock to many considering Cancelo’s established status as a top-tier full-back.
Cancelo’s loan spell at Bayern ended, and he was loaned out once again, this time to Barcelona for the current season without an option to buy. Despite this, Cancelo has maintained his high performance levels and showcased his versatility, notably filling in at left-back due to injuries.
Former City left-back Gael Clichy even suggested on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football that Cancelo is still the best left-back in the world, highlighting his quality before his departure from Manchester City.
Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, has confirmed the club’s interest in re-signing Cancelo for the next season, along with another loanee, Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid. However, Barcelona’s financial constraints raise doubts about their ability to afford a permanent deal.
Reports suggest that Manchester City is open to selling Cancelo for around €30m, but Barcelona may succeed in securing him for a significantly lower amount, possibly between €15m-€20m, according to Sport. This would be a major coup for Barcelona given Cancelo’s caliber as a player.
Sport also mentions Guardiola’s purported lack of interest in keeping Cancelo in his squad, which Barcelona hopes will lead to a reduction in City’s asking price. Furthermore, the involvement of super-agent Jorge Mendes in negotiating Cancelo’s future could influence Manchester City to agree to a deal within Barcelona’s financial reach.