Man City are ‘prepared to take Joao Cancelo on pre-season tour’ after 17-month absence… as Premier League champions demand Barcelona meet £25m asking price
- Cancelo was loaned out to Barcelona by Manchester City last season
- Barcelona hopes to sign the defender permanently this summer
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Manchester City are reportedly preparing to take Joao Cancelo on the club’s pre-season tour of the United States if Barcelona fail to agree a fee for the defender.
Cancelo has not played a competitive game for Man City in 17 months, with the full-back having spent two loan spells at the club.
The Portugal international last played for the champions in January 2023 in a 2-1 defeat to Man United.
Cancelo has been loaned out to Bayern Munich for the rest of the season after reports of a falling out with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
The 30-year-old spent last season on loan at Barcelona and made 42 appearances in all competitions.
Man City are reportedly willing to take Joao Cancelo on their pre-season tour of the US
Barcelona are keen to sign Cancelo permanently, but are reportedly struggling to agree on a fee
Barcelona are keen to sign Cancelo on a permanent basis, with the defender reportedly willing to cut his £180,000-a-week wages to complete a transfer.
According to The sunMan City are demanding a £25million fee from Barcelona for Cancelo before agreeing to his departure.
Barcelona have reportedly insisted that they cannot meet the current asking price given their well-documented financial problems.
A new loan deal has also been mooted, with Barcelona committed to signing Cancelo permanently next summer.
It is claimed that Man City are open to Cancelo returning to the squad for their pre-season tour of the United States if a deal cannot be reached with the Catalan giants.
Cancelo was named in Man City’s squad for their tour last summer and joined Guardiola’s squad for matches in Japan and South Korea.
Man City will play four pre-season matches in the United States this summer ahead of the new season.
Guardiola’s side are scheduled to play Celtic and AC Milan next month before facing Cancelo’s suitor Barcelona on July 30.
Cancelo played for Man City during their pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea last summer
The full-back made 42 appearances in all competitions while on loan to Barcelona last season
Man City concludes its US tour with a match against Chelsea on August 3.
Guardiola confirmed last week that Cancelo would return to the squad if Barcelona fail to reach an agreement.
“It has to be the best for everyone,” Guardiola said. ‘The two clubs sit down around the table.
“He is our player and if no agreement is reached he will have to return in pre-season.
‘If he wants to stay here [at Barcelona]and the clubs agree: it will happen again.’
It was widely reported that Cancelo and Guardiola were involved in a heated row before his first loan spell.
However, Cancelo has denied this and he told Mundo Deportivo last year: ‘It’s a lie that I had a falling out with Guardiola, a complete lie.
Cancelo is currently with the Portuguese team at the European Championships in Germany
‘I didn’t feel important to the team in the last few games. I spoke to the coach and he agreed.
‘I, the coach and the club decided that I had to leave, that this was the best option for me. I like new opportunities and I have nothing against City.’
Cancelo has three years left on his City contract, which he signed in February 2022.