Manchester City set Cancelo transfer fee with FC Barcelona

As the summer dragged on and Cancelo failed to arrive, It seemed possible that FC Barcelona would be unable to close the transfer of Xavi’s number-one target for the vacant right-back position.

Fortunately, Joan Laporta and the sports management team were able to close the deal on transfer deadline day and the early returns have been positive.

Although Cancelo has appeared in three games, he’s only started two. Both of those games ended in dominant performances and results. First, there was the 5-0 win in La Liga, a game in which Cancelo scored a superb goal, and then came the 5-0 win against Royal Antwerp in the Champions League.

Two starts, two clean sheets and a goal, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Manchester City have already set the asking price for Cancelo

When the agreement was made between Manchester City and Barcelona for the loan transfer of Cancelo, it was rumoured that a gentlemen’s agreement had been made over the transfer fee.

Mundo Deportivo are now reporting that City are looking for €25 million for the Portuguese international, and considering his early season performances, that looks like a bargain.

The loan transfer didn’t include a purchase option for Barca, but with Cancelo having fallen out of favour with City manager Pep Guardiola, It seems likely that he’ll move on in the summer.

Cancelo will turn 30 next season, and once players hit that mark their valuation drops in the eyes of many, especially wing-backs who rely on their pace.

Barcelona have struggled to find a replacement for Dani Alves, and while Cancelo isn’t a long-term option because of his age, he still has plenty of football ahead of him, and his permanent signing could help solidify that position while they develop talents in the La Masia academy, much like they did with Alejandro Balde who replaced Jordi Alba.

It’s believed that Cancelo would be very open to continuing his stay in Catalonia, but there’s a long way to go before a decision has to be made.