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Barcelona Agrees Six-Month Loan for João Cancelo as InterAl-Hilal Swap Falls Through

Player preference, reinforced by agent Jorge Mendes' influence, proved decisive.

Overview

  • Barcelona submitted a formal written offer to Al-Hilal for a loan through June with a wage contribution, and the proposal was accepted.
  • The agreement nullifies Inter’s swap plan with Al-Hilal that was centered on sending a central defender, leaving Stefan de Vrij and Francesco Acerbi in Milan.
  • Cancelo had been frozen out by Simone Inzaghi at Al-Hilal and asked Inter to wait while he prioritized a Barcelona return.
  • Inter has paused immediate January moves for a right-sided reinforcement and will lean on internal solutions while continuing to monitor opportunities.
  • After the decision drew criticism, Cancelo posted on social media suggesting there is another version of the story.