Joao Cancelo Returns to Al Hilal Training Amid Barcelona Negotiations

For most of the summer, Barcelona behaved as if Joao Cancelo’s return was a matter of time, not debate. A deal with Al Hilal felt inevitable. It still might be. It just isn’t done.

The Portuguese full-back, who lit up the second half of last season on loan at Camp Nou, is back where his contract says he should be: working with Al Hilal in pre-season.

Professional in Saudi, focused on Barcelona

Al Hilal have confirmed that Cancelo has rejoined their preparations, a development that jars slightly with the assumption that he was already halfway back to Barcelona. The reality is more mundane: there is no agreement, and there is one year left on his deal in Saudi Arabia.

He may not be central to Al Hilal’s sporting plans, but he remains their player. Until Barcelona and the Saudi club find common ground, Cancelo trains, runs, and prepares with his current team.

That shouldn’t be read as a change of heart. His preference is clear: he wants Barcelona. He has pushed for that move, he continues to prioritise it, and his stance has given Barça some leverage in talks. But it also underlines his professionalism. Until something changes, he respects the badge he is contracted to.

Why Barcelona are still pushing

Inside Barcelona, the belief hasn’t shifted. They still think they can get this over the line before the window shuts, even if the process has dragged on longer than Hansi Flick would like.

The reasons are obvious. Cancelo transformed Barça’s left side last season, eventually dislodging Alejandro Balde from the starting role. He played at a consistently high level, switching flanks, stepping into midfield, and offering a creative outlet against deep, compact defences.

That versatility is gold for a coach like Flick. Cancelo can operate on either wing, invert into central zones during build-up, and help overload areas where Barcelona often run out of ideas. The club know exactly what they are buying: there is no adaptation gamble, no uncertainty over his fit in the system. It is as close to a low-risk signing as the modern market allows.

His presence would also sharpen Balde’s season. The youngster faces a pivotal campaign, and serious competition from a seasoned international could either accelerate his development or expose weaknesses that need addressing.

Al Hilal hold the cards – for now

Yet for all Barcelona’s confidence and Cancelo’s clear preference, Al Hilal do not have to fold. They may not be building around him, but they are under no obligation to accept terms that do not suit them. That hard reality explains the slowdown.

The operation has become a negotiation of patience: Barcelona waiting for the price and conditions to bend their way, Al Hilal waiting to see how far the Catalans are prepared to go, and Cancelo caught in the middle, training in one shirt while picturing himself in another.

Time still favours Barcelona. The window remains open, the player’s will is aligned with theirs, and the tactical fit is already proven.

But as Cancelo runs through drills in Saudi Arabia instead of Spain, one question hangs over the deal: how long can all three parties afford to wait before this summer certainty starts to look like an opportunity missed?