Manchester City have made the decision to lower the asking price for Joao Cancelo, which could open the door to his move to FC Barcelona for a substantially reduced fee of £24.3m.
Joao Cancelo, 29, is currently on loan at Barcelona, since the Catalan club could not afford the definitive purchase of the player last summer. In January, Manchester City had been demanding around £55 million for the Portuguese full-back, following a dispute with manager Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City lowers Joao Cancelo’s asking price
After being loaned to Bayern Munich during the second half of last season, the German champions opted against making a permanent signing for Cancelo. Barcelona turned up on the final transfer day and secured a loan deal, and talks over a permanent transfer continued throughout September.
The Daily Star reports that Manchester City have decided to reduce their demands and is willing to sell Cancelo for less than half the original price. Despite the financial problems facing Barcelona, Joao Cancelo’s initial performances under Xavi have already convinced the Catalan club to consider signing him permanently.
In his first five games in La Liga, Cancelo has scored two goals and provided one assist. Furthermore, last Friday, he contributed to his new team’s 1-0 victory over Sevilla, standing out in both defense and attack. The incorporation of the Portuguese international, along with that of Joao Félix, has revitalized Xavi’s team, which currently leads the Spanish La Liga table.
Xavi recently praised both players, highlighting their individual quality and their ability to adapt to the team. “We are talking about two players whose individual quality is beyond any doubt,” commented Xavi. “You see them train and you see his greatness. Cancelo comes from a coach (Guardiola) who for me is the best and interprets everything very well.” The possibility of acquiring Joao Cancelo at a more affordable price could be great news for Barcelona, which is looking to strengthen its squad.
