Flick waits as Cancelo’s return To Barcelona drags into August

Hansi Flick will have to keep waiting to lock in his defensive lineup. João Cancelo’s return is taking longer than expected, and the Portuguese fullback remains in limbo as Barcelona and Al‑Hilal negotiate a permanent transfer.

Cancelo spent the second half of last season on loan with Barça, but once that deal expired, he was required to report back to Al‑Hilal. According to Mundo Deportivo, the final agreement between the clubs may not be settled until sometime in August because of tax‑related issues tied both to Cancelo’s salary and the structure of the transfer fee.

Opportunity opens for Balde

Flick views Cancelo as a cornerstone of his project. During his time in Barcelona, Cancelo effectively owned the left flank, but the coach also values his versatility — the veteran can slide over to the right side just as comfortably.

With Cancelo unavailable while the transfer gets sorted out, Alejandro Balde suddenly has a golden opening. Since he didn’t play in the World Cup, Balde has been with the team from day one of preseason and currently looks like the natural starter on the left.

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