Romano announces 'HERE WE GO' on Joao Cancelo's move to Barcelona
Cameron Smith
- 28 Aug 2023 13:46 BST
- 4 min read
Barcelona have reached a final agreement to sign Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo on loan, with the move given Fabrizio Romano’s trademark ‘here we go’ on Monday afternoon.
The Blaugrana have been chasing the Portugal international for several weeks as they look to bolster their backline and provide Xavi with an out-and-out right-back.
Romano has reported that Barcelona and Man City are exchanging the final documents for the move, with the deal set to be signed within the next 24 hours.
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The move will see Cancelo join the Spanish giants on a season-long loan deal with a buy-option included.
The 29-year-old spent the second-half of the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Bundesliga side Bayern Munich, and he made 21 appearances for the Bavarian side as they overhauled Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the season to win their 11th consecutive league title.
His move to the Allianz Arena came after he fell out with Pep Guardiola after his game time was reduced in the immediate aftermath of the 2022 World Cup. Cancelo had previously been a key figure at Man City.
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He has not featured for Guardiola’s side so far this season, with Cancelo not appearing in Man City’s matchday squad for any of their three league games in 2023-24.
Barcelona’s right-back issue fixed
Hector Bellerin, Emerson Royal and Sergino Dest have all been signed by Barcelona since 2020, but none managed to nail down a starting spot and have all been moved on.
Dest remains contracted to the Blaugrana, but he will spend the 2023-24 season on loan at PSV Eindhoven.
Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde shared minutes at right-back last year, along with new club captain Sergi Roberto, and Xavi was keen to sign Cancelo in order to upgrade that area on the pitch.
That mission has now been completed, and Cancelo could make his Barca debut against Osasuna on Sunday, 3 September.
