Joao Cancelo has shown a strong desire to return to Barcelona. He has fond memories of his time at the club and is in contact with former teammates. Although he is a key player for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, he considers Barcelona the ideal place to showcase his best football. The player is willing to make sacrifices to return, but financial difficulties and Barcelona's focus on finding a young fullback make the move challenging. Previously, Cancelo was on loan from Manchester City to Barcelona in 2023, but economic constraints and City's refusal to extend the loan prevented a permanent stay. The sporting director, Deco, had wanted him for Hansi Flick's project, but the transfer was not realized.

João Cancelo has expressed a desire to return to Barcelona and continues to communicate with several members of the Barcelona team. Barcelona is in search of a right-back but aims for a cost-effective transfer. Despite Cancelo's interest, Deco, who is Barcelona's sporting director, reportedly wants to recruit a younger player with the potential for growth, which would also allow Koundé to have more rest and serve as an option for central defense. Cancelo had made every effort to stay at Barcelona for the 2024/2025 season after spending a loan period from Manchester City, but circumstances did not allow it, resulting in his move to Al Hilal, where Jorge Jesus is the coach. In the current season, he has participated in 19 matches, scoring one goal and providing seven assists for Al Hilal.