João Cancelo is keen on making a return to European football as Inter Milan assesses the possibilities for a potential transfer in January.
The Portuguese full-back is set to depart from Al Hilal this month after facing challenges in Saudi Arabia, where his rapport with head coach Simone Inzaghi has reportedly not developed positively.
According to Il Giorno, via FCInter1908, Cancelo has already tasked his agent Jorge Mendes with finding a new club among Europe’s elite teams.
Inter Keeps a Close Watch on Cancelo Ahead of January
Inter Milan is closely observing the situation. The Nerazzurri are in search of a seasoned wide player to fill the gap left by Denzel Dumfries, who is recovering from surgery and will likely be unavailable until March.
Cancelo, who previously made a significant impact in Italy, is viewed as a perfect technical fit for head coach Cristian Chivu.
Nevertheless, any potential transfer would depend heavily on financial considerations. Cancelo currently receives around €18 million net per season, a figure that far exceeds Inter’s budget. A deal could only materialize if Al Hilal agrees to cover a substantial portion of his wages, thus facilitating his return to Europe.
Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and his Portuguese teammate celebrate after winning the Supercoppa during the Italian Super Cup match between Juventus FC and AC Milan at King Abdullah Al Jawhara International Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on January 16, 2019. EPA-EFE/STR
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Barcelona has also been mentioned as a possible destination, given Cancelo’s previous success there, but Inter remains vigilant, hoping the economic terms can be negotiated. Within Chivu’s squad, options on the right wing are limited, as Luis Henrique has yet to prove himself fully and Matteo Darmian is only just returning from injury and still lacking match fitness.