The future of João Cancelo has reached a fever pitch. It is now 100% certain that the Portuguese international will leave Al Hilal this month after a complete breakdown in his relationship with manager Simone Inzaghi.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Cancelo is desperate for a return to Europe, and the next few hours will determine if he lands in Milan or Barcelona.
Inter Milan’s High-Stakes Exchange
Inter Milan have emerged as the most concrete destination, but the deal comes with a unique condition. The Nerazzurri have informed Al Hilal that they are willing to let one of their veteran center-backs—either Francesco Acerbi or Stefan de Vrij—move to Saudi Arabia, but only if Cancelo joins Inter on loan.
- The Logic: Al Hilal is currently at its foreign-player limit. For Inzaghi to reunite with his former Inter defenders, he must first offload a foreign player—in this case, Cancelo.
- The Benefit: For Inter, this allows them to offload an aging salary while gaining a world-class fullback. Acerbi has reportedly already given his “green light” to the move, leaving the ball entirely in Cancelo’s court.
The Barcelona “Waiting Game”
Despite Inter’s aggressive push, Cancelo’s heart remains at the Camp Nou. He is reportedly stalling on Inter’s offer in hopes that FC Barcelona will find the financial room to make a proposal.
However, time is running out.
While Hansi Flick is open to defensive reinforcements, the club’s Financial Fair Play constraints mean they haven’t put a formal offer on the table yet.
Barcelona’s board must make a final decision within the next 48 hours, or they risk losing the player to Inter entirely.
What’s Next?
We are officially in the “crucial hours.” If Barcelona doesn’t act by the end of the week, expect Cancelo to finalize his return to the San Siro, triggering a defensive shuffle that would see Acerbi heading to the Middle East.
