Al Hilal is on the verge of finalizing the signing of João Cancelo from Manchester City, according to a source familiar with the situation. The transfer deal is said to be valued at an initial fee of £21 million ($28m). Cancelo, a prominent figure in the Portugal national team, is nearing an agreement on a contract that will see him earn approximately £15m per year.
Despite his stature in the football world, the 30-year-old defender has not seen much action for Manchester City in the past 18 months. He spent time on loan at Bayern Munich and Barcelona, returning to training with City this summer. However, he was notably absent from the squad for the initial two Premier League fixtures against Chelsea and Ipswich Town.
Cancelo has had a successful stint at Manchester City, appearing in over 150 matches and clinching the Premier League title on three occasions. His performances on the field have earned him recognition, as he was named in the PFA Premier League team of the year in both 2021 and 2022.
The last time Cancelo featured for City was in January 2023, before embarking on a surprising loan spell with Bayern Munich. Following his time in Germany, he made a temporary switch to Barcelona for the 2023-24 season. Despite Barcelona’s interest in retaining him, financial constraints have allowed Al Hilal to take the lead in the race for his signature.
While Cancelo has emerged as a top target for Al Hilal, the club had initially considered pursuing Kyle Walker. However, after it became apparent that Walker was not available, attention turned to Cancelo. Al Hilal also explored the possibility of acquiring Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.
Manchester City, on the other hand, is still contemplating adding another attacking player to their roster before the upcoming transfer deadline. Despite the departure of Julián Álvarez to Atlético Madrid, manager Pep Guardiola is content with his squad options following the return of midfielder Ilkay Gündogan from Barcelona. Nevertheless, the club is actively scouting various strikers to bolster their attacking lineup.
The impending transfer of João Cancelo from Manchester City to Al Hilal signifies a significant move in the world of football. With the deal nearing completion, both clubs are poised to benefit from the talents and experience that Cancelo brings to the table.
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