Story byInter transfer blow as Deco confirms Cancelo joining Barcelona ‘soon’Football ItaliaThu, January 8, 2026 at 11:45 AM UTC·2 min readBarcelona director Deco confirms that Joao Cancelo is on the verge of returning to Catalunya: ‘We are finalising the negotiation.’Portuguese right-back Cancelo is set to join Barcelona on loan from Al-Hilal. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSerie A giants Inter were interested in signing the Portugal international, but Cancelo opted to return to Barcelona instead. Cancelo set for Barcelona move, Deco confirmsMIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JUNE 18: Joao Cancelo #20 of Al Hilal warms up prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between Real Madrid CF and Al Hilal at Hard Rock Stadium on June 18, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/)Now, the Catalans’ director Deco has confirmed that the La Liga giants will soon finalise the deal.“We hope so,” Deco said via Gazzetta.“We are finalising the negotiation. He still hasn’t had his medical tests, but he’ll soon fly to Barcelona, and we’ll close the deal.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCancelo has fallen out with Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi and has been frozen out of domestic league and Asian Champions League squads. What’s next for Inter after Cancelo picked Barcelona?FLORENCE, ITALY – DECEMBER 11: Domilson Cordeiro dos Santos known as Dodo of ACF Fiorentina in action during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Dynamo Kyiv at Stadio Artemio Franchi on December 11, 2025 in Florence, Italy.
