Joao Cancelo’s transfer to Barcelona could not have been possible if Ousmane Dembele had stayed put at the club beyond the summer transfer window.
The Catalan club wrapped up a season-long loan transfer for the Portugal international from Manchester City during the dying embers of the transfer window.
The deal was eventually finalised, much to the relief of Barca, with Cancelo being the head coach Xavi Hernandez’s first preference choice.
The Laliga giants’ finances prevented a deal from being made earlier this summer. Thus it had appeared impossible for them to get Cancelo.
As per reports from The Athletic, the deal was only feasible after Dembele left to join PSG.
Barcelona’s wage bill could not allow for the signing of Cancelo, therefore, Sporting Director Deco worked to secure the services of Ivan Fresneda.
But as soon as they learned that PSG had triggered Dembele’s release clause, they immediately turned their attention to Cancelo.
Although Fresneda has been Deco’s top choice for a right-back. Cancelo gained greater backing from Barcelona as a result. And as soon as an agreement was feasible, he took precedence over Fresneda.
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Cancelo travelled to Lisbon last week when it appeared that an agreement would be made between Man City and Barcelona. So that he would be prepared to travel to Catalonia at a moment’s notice. But he was stuck there for more than a week.
Cancelo’s loan agreement contains no buy clause. For the rest of the season, they will have a world-class right-back in their lineup. And there will undoubtedly be a chance to make the arrangement permanent next summer.
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