Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Juventus have expressed interest in signing Joao Cancelo, the Al-Hilal full-back, this January, according to renowned Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The Portuguese international is keen to leave the Saudi Pro League team after losing favor with coach Simone Inzaghi.
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After suffering a hamstring injury, Cancelo was left out of Al-Hilal’s squad for domestic competitions during the first half of the season, though he has primarily played in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Inzaghi is reportedly planning to exclude the former Manchester City star from domestic games for the rest of the season, casting uncertainty over his future.
The 31-year-old aims to return to Europe to enhance his chances of making Portugal’s World Cup squad.
Inter Milan is considering Cancelo as a loan target, particularly following the long-term injury to Denzel Dumfries.
The Dutch wing-back recently underwent ankle surgery and is not expected to be back until March.
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Manager Cristian Chivu has struggled to find a suitable replacement for Dumfries, as Luis Henrique’s performances have not met expectations.
Meanwhile, Barcelona is on the lookout for a high-quality backup for Jules Kounde to alleviate his playing time and maintain his performance levels.
Cancelo previously spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Camp Nou and has a deep connection to the La Liga club, making a return appealing to him.
However, Barcelona’s financial constraints may hinder their ability to secure Cancelo, as their immediate priority is to find a short-term centre-back following Andreas Christensen’s knee injury.