Joao Cancelo reveals VILE threats: Barca transfer put in doubt over SHOCKING comments

Robin Bairner

20 Apr 2024 11:20 BST
5 min read

Joao Cancelo, Barcelona, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo has revealed that he has been subject to horrifying abuse from online trolls after he committed a foul that was partially responsible for his side’s Champions League exit at the hands of PSG.

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With Barca trailing 2-1 on the night but still tied 4-4 on aggregate with the Ligue 1 champions, Cancelo went to ground in the box in a challenge with Ousmane Dembele. He failed to get the ball but cleaned out the PSG winger, with Kylian Mbappe converting the resultant penalty to propel the French side into the semi-finals of the competition.

Cancelo has revealed the vile abuse he has been subjected to since the incident.

What did online trolls say to Cancelo?

"People say all sorts," Cancelo told ESPN ahead of Sunday’s Clasico with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

"There are comments on Instagram wishing death upon my daughter who's not even been born yet. They would not say it to me face, because we would have a problem, but in the comments they write what they want.

"They're offensive to my partner, my daughter, our unborn baby. It's a cruel world and you have to know how to live with it. I know how to, but I just don't know what to say anymore.

"Wishing death upon a baby is really serious. People don't think about the person behind the footballer they see on the television. We are humans, too. We are just the same."

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Barcelona had made signing Cancelo, who is on loan from Manchester City, on a permanent basis one of their transfer priorities for the summer.

It is unclear what type of impact the abuse that the 29-year-old has suffered might have on the deal, yet it is clear that the full-back has fallen in the estimations of the Barca supporters.

Cancelo has played 35 times for Barcelona this season, scoring four goals and creating four more.