João Cancelo leaves Al Hilal, set to return to Barcelona as free agent

João Cancelo has parted ways with Al Hilal, clearing the path for a free agent return to Barcelona, where he made a genuine impression during a loan spell in the second half of last season. From loan spell to love affair Cancelo originally joined Barcelona on loan in January 2026, with the move costing around €4 million in fees. What followed was a productive half-season in La Liga that left both the player and the club wanting more. Cancelo made his feelings abundantly clear. After returning to Saudi Arabia, he posted on Instagram wearing Barcelona’s colors. Earlier in 2026, Cancelo reportedly turned down a move to Inter Milan, choosing to hold out specifically for Barcelona. Al Hilal’s hardball and the stalemate that followed Al Hilal initially set an asking price of around €10 million, which was already a stretch for Barcelona given their well-documented financial constraints. Then the Saudi club raised the price to €15 million, a move that effectively froze negotiations. Barcelona’s strategy was always to secure Cancelo either as a free agent or for a minimal transfer fee, something closer to the €4 million they paid for the initial loan. Al Hilal’s manager Simone Inzaghi refer...