Joao Cancelo has emerged as a strong January transfer target for both Barcelona and Inter Milan, with his future at Al Hilal coming to an end. The Portuguese full-back is set to leave the Saudi Pro League club during the winter window after falling out with head coach Simon Inzaghi, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Cancelo, 31, has had a difficult time in Saudi Arabia, making just six appearances in all competitions this season. The situation has worsened in recent weeks, with the defender reportedly frozen out of Al Hilal’s plans and unlikely to register for competitions in the second half of the campaign. As a result, his departure this month seems inevitable.
Barcelona have reportedly made contact to explore the possibility of bringing Cancelo back to Camp Nou, where he previously spent time on loan. The Portugal international is looking forward to returning to Spain and his representatives are fully aware of his desire to pull on the Blaugrana shirt again. However, this step is far from straightforward. While new head coach Hansi Flick asked the club to strengthen their defense in January, his priority remains to sign a centre-back rather than a full-back.
That said, Cancelo’s versatility could play to Barcelona’s advantage. His arrival would allow Jules Kounda to move back into a central defensive role and offer Flick more tactical flexibility. Despite this, some members of the Barcelona board are said to be against the transfer and no formal offer has yet been made.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan moved more decisively. Reports from Sport Mediaset suggest the Serie A giants already have an agreement in principle with Al Hilal for a six-month loan. Inter see Cancelo as an experienced, short-term solution who can immediately strengthen their squad during a crucial stage of the season.
Juventus also inquired about Cancelo’s availability, adding another layer of competition. While Barcelona remains the player’s preferred destination, Inter’s concrete proposal makes a move to the San Siro a very real possibility if the Catalan club continue to hesitate.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
January 3, 2026
