Cancelo to Barcelona Shatters Al Hilal's Winter Transfer Plans

Transfer Drama: Cancelo's Barca Switch Crushes Al Hilal's Winter Plans

The Portuguese left-back Joao Cancelo, who plays for Al Hilal, spoiled two target deals for the Saudi club during the current winter transfer window.

Cancelo was on the verge of leaving Hilal in this mercato, heading to Barcelona the club he previously represented in the 2023-24 season after he was preferred over Inter Milan.

Italian Federico Pastorello, agent for Francesco Acerbi and Stefan De Vrij of Inter Milan, told the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadia that Cancelo's move to Barcelona marks the end of Hilal's hopes to sign his clients.

Pastorello said that with Cancelo moving to Barcelona, everything is over and no deal for Acerbi or De Vrij to Hilal will take place, which is the current status of the transfer.

Some reports have recently claimed that Hilal entered negotiations with Fiorentina to sign Spanish defender Pablo Mari during this winter window, after failing to land the Nerazzurri duo.

Punchline 1: If transfers were dating apps, Cancelo just swiped right on Barca and left Hilal on read.

Punchline 2: The mercato just served a plot twist sharper than a left back’s studs.