Cancelo stuck in the middle of Xavi and Guardiola

After initially ruling out the signing of a full-back, Barcelona president Joan Laporta surprised everyone by changing course. On Tuesday, he declared that the first team is lacking two midfielders and a right-back, signalling a renewed push in the summer transfer market. For good measure, he also said his new team were better than that of Real Madrid.

And it’s not just any right-back that manager Xavi Hernández desires; his sights are set on João Cancelo, however, the potential acquisition could be a rather complex matter.

Can Barça secure Cancelo from City?

There was, you may be aware, a recent disagreement between Xavi and Man City boss Pep Guardiola regarding Cancelo. The Barcelona coach secretly accused his former manager at the Camp Nou of obstructing the player’s signing in January, stating that “they told us they didn’t want this player to come to Barcelona.” In response, the coach who led the blaugrana to two trebles responded firmly, saying, “Xavi has been misinformed. That’s far from the reality. The reality was that we decided he had to leave, and we didn’t care where he went, even if it was to [Manchester] United, our rival. I won’t say Xavi was deceived, but he was misinformed.”

Given this context, Barcelona must now navigate a delicate situation. Cancelo is currently under contract until 2027 and holds a market value of around $50 million, making a permanent transfer unlikely for the Spanish club. A loan deal appears to be the only feasible option.

The relationship between Xavi and Guardiola seems strained at the moment, but Laporta could play a pivotal role in the operation if he becomes appropriately involved. The president is said to maintain an excellent relationship with Guardiola and Txiki, who served as the sports director during his initial term as the club’s top manager. Jorge Mendes could also facilitate negotiations as a mediator between Ferran Soriano, Mateu Alemany, and Barcelona, avoiding direct involvement of the technical staff. Sources close to Barcelona suggest that there has been some thawing in tensions, and discussions are progressing.

Cancelo’s evolution: perfect for Xavi’s Barça?

To us looking on, Cancelo’s case is somewhat paradoxical. He experienced a definitive leap in quality under Guardiola’s guidance at City, shining in both the Premier League and the Champions League. He later, though, became a problematic figure in the dressing room to the extent that the club sought an immediate transfer for the player.

Despite being right-footed, Cancelo possesses the ability to play on both flanks. He provides width on the right side while also having the capacity to cut inside from the left, and his quality on the ball is unquestionable. Xavi values this versatility and seeks a more dynamic option on the right, as he currently relies heavily on Alejandro Balde on the left.

However, if Barça were to pursue Cancelo, the coach would need to address the potential challenges of player integration, considering that the unity within the team was one of the great strengths of the title-winning team of last year.