Joao Cancelo Eyes Benfica Return While Pledging Loyalty to Barcelona

Joao Cancelo made every effort this summer to join Barcelona. Although his willingness wasn’t enough during the winter transfer window of 2023, he finally realized his dream of donning the Blaugrana jersey this summer. And he doesn’t hesitate to publicly express his desire to stay at Barça. “I don’t know what will happen, but I want to stay at Barça. I grew up idolizing Ronaldinho, and I am very proud to wear this shirt,” he recently said in an interview with ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport.’

Barcelona is highly pleased with Cancelo’s performance and commitment as an ambidextrous full-back and is keen on doing everything possible to retain his services. President Joan Laporta conveyed optimism in this regard during the newly launched ‘president’s podcast,’ which airs on ‘Barça One,’ the revamped ‘Barça TV.’ Laporta hinted that they were in talks to renew Cancelo’s loan deal, along with Joao Félix, with an option to buy. He also indicated that they were closer to setting a price for the Manchester City defender.

However, besides fulfilling his dream at Barça, Cancelo has a lingering desire to succeed at his boyhood club, Benfica. He expressed this sentiment in an interview during the international break with ‘A Bola.’ “I feel a void for not having played a season at the club, but I believe that moment could come, and I would love it. I have high hopes of returning to Benfica because it is the club of my heart, and it would be a pleasure to represent this great club in the future.”

Cancelo joined Benfica’s youth ranks in 2008 at the age of 14 and even made his debut for the first team. Although his stint in the Primeira Liga was brief, he feels he has unfinished business with his beloved club and hopes to fulfill it, albeit after achieving many successes at Barcelona.