Barcelona’s plans for the new season continue to take shape, but not every piece of business is expected to be completed before Hansi Flick’s squad gets back to work.
While several arrivals have already been wrapped up, the Catalan club are also working on securing players they already know well, believing continuity will be just as important as fresh additions.
One of those negotiations is still ongoing behind the scenes.
Barcelona remain confident that Joao Cancelo will return permanently despite the transfer taking longer than initially expected, as per Mundo Deportivo.
The Portuguese defender’s loan officially expired at the end of June, shortly before his international commitments concluded.
Cancelo’s World Cup campaign came to an end on 6 July, when Portugal were eliminated by Spain in the Round of 16.
Since then, the experienced full-back has been spending his summer break on the Italian island of Sardinia while waiting for Barcelona and Al Hilal to complete the remaining details of his transfer.
According to reports, the 32-year-old has stayed completely relaxed throughout the process because his priority has never changed.
The personal terms of Cancelo’s contract with the Spanish champions have already been agreed, leaving only a handful of tax-related matters before the move can be officially finalised.
Barcelona themselves are also showing no urgency.
Neither the club nor Hansi Flick are believed to be concerned by the delay, with Joao Cancelo having only recently begun his summer holiday following Portugal’s World Cup exit.
For that reason, there is little expectation inside the club that the transfer will be completed before the first-team squad reports for its pre-season training camp at St George’s Park in England.
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