La Liga: Barca seal Cancelo return to bolster defence

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Barcelona have signed defender Joao Cancelo on a free transfer, the Spanish champions said Thursday.

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“The full-back arrives as a free agent and signs on until June 30, 2029,” said Barca in a statement.

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Portugal international Cancelo terminated his contract with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in order to return to Camp Nou.

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The 32-year-old has previously spent two loan spells with Barca, including in the second half of last season, helping Hansi Flick’s side retain La Liga.

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Cancelo played in Portugal, Spain and Italy before joining Manchester City in 2019.

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The defender was loaned to Bayern Munich and then Barcelona in the 2023/24 campaign before joining Al Hilal in 2024.

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Cancelo follows Rodri, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi to Barca this summer, with the Catalan giants still looking to sign a striker after the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

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Barca were hoping to sign Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez but have to look elsewhere with the Rojiblancos refusing to let the Argentina international move.

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Flick’s team begin their La Liga campaign on Sunday at Elche.

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AFP

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