Joao Cancelo Makes Bold Move to Join Barcelona as Hansi Flick Weighs His Options
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has expressed the club's intention to acquire a new defensive player in the January transfer market, though the available João Cancelo might not be his top preference.
Cancelo, who had a loan spell with Barcelona during the 2023–24 campaign after unexpectedly losing his place at Manchester City, has been playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al Hilal for nearly a year and a half.
According to MARCA, the Portuguese fullback, who can operate effectively on either flank, is prepared to make a European comeback after growing dissatisfied with life in Saudi Arabia. Christensen's injury could present an opening, with Cancelo reportedly making himself available to Barcelona.
Should Barcelona submit Christensen's medical documentation to La Liga—which must be done by January 14—the club would be permitted to bring in a replacement using up to 80% of the Danish player's wages. This approach was previously employed to register Joan García last summer following Marc-André ter Stegen's back operation.
Cancelo is mentioned by MARCA as "among the possibilities" being evaluated by sporting director Deco, though the report suggests Flick remains unconvinced about the move.
Flick: 'It Has to Make Sense'
Flick has previously acknowledged his desire for additional defensive reinforcement.
"We're not prepared at this moment, but when I examine our defensive line, I believe we require another player," he stated to the media. "However, it's challenging to secure players during this [January] window. We'll need to wait and see... I expect we'll make a move, but it must be logical."
The key question remains whether Cancelo represents a sensible option. The 31-year-old wouldn't directly replace Christensen, who plays as a central defender. Bringing in Cancelo would bolster the fullback positions, potentially allowing Jules Kounde to shift centrally, or supporting Gerard Martín's emerging role as a center back.
The complication with using Cancelo to replace Koundé at right back so the French player can move inside is that it demands more tactical adjustments than simply signing a dedicated center back from the start.