Barcelona complete transfer to open door for Cancelo

Robin Bairner

Updated: 21 Aug 2023 08:28 BST
3 min read

Joao Cancelo, Barcelona, 2023/24 — © ProShots

Barcelona have announced that Sergino Dest has joined PSV on loan in a deal that opens the door to the arrival of Joao Cancelo from Manchester City.

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Barca have spent much of the summer trying to sell fringe players, with the 22-year-old Dest, who arrived in a €21 million deal from Ajax in 2020, one of those they have been working hard to find a new club for.

They have finally achieved this by sending the USMNT star back to the Eredivisie with PSV after a disappointing spell at Camp Nou.

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In a statement, the Camp Nou club said: "FC Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven have reached an agreement for the loan of the player Sergiño Dest until 30 June 2024. The Dutch club has an option to buy. The club reserves the right to a percentage of any future sale of the player."

This is Dest’s second successive loan move, with the attacking right full-back having spent last term on loan with AC Milan in Serie A.

Barcelona are expected to pay 40% of Dest's wages during his time with PSV.

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Cancelo aiming for Barca loan rejuvenation

Dest’s departure opens the door for Cancelo to arrive from Manchester City on a loan-to-buy basis.

The biggest impediment to a deal had been Barcelona’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) situation. Although Barca will not pay a sizeable fee this summer for Cancelo, they have committed to paying 90% of his €200,000 per-week wages and could buy him for €52 million next summer.

Cancelo has fallen out of favour at Manchester City, with a clash with manager Pep Guardiola reportedly behind a loan switch to Bayern Munich in January.

He failed to impress at the Allianz Arena, not winning the game time he expected, and as such FCB did not take up their option to buy him for €60m this summer.

The rise of Rico Lewis has further marginalised Cancelo at Man City, and he hopes the forthcoming move to Barcelona will rejuvenate his career.