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Barcelona may be just a few days away from re-signing Joao Cancelo for a third stint at the club, with the Portuguese defender working towards an exit from Al Hilal.

As per transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona are ready to fly Cancelo into the city early next week once Al Hilal give the final green signal for his departure.

The Blaugrana are growing in confidence that the matter will be sorted soon, with the player himself keen to finalise his return.

The latest Barcelona transfer developments around the defender indicate that Cancelo’s future could be resolved through the termination of his contract with the Saudi Pro League club.

Talks involving the player, his representatives and Al Hilal are believed to be continuing as all sides try to arrive at a solution.

The financial aspect of the Joao Cancelo transfer has been one of the key sticking points during the negotiations.

Cancelo has no place in Simone Inzaghi’s squad. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Barcelona and Al Hilal were reportedly moving towards an agreement worth around €10 million.

But the Saudi club then increased their asking price to €15 million, creating fresh doubt over how the transfer would eventually be completed.

That development now seems to have opened up another path, and Barcelona are prepared to move if the Saudi side formally clears the way.

Inside the club, the Catalan giants are optimistic about completing the required paperwork and bringing the Portugal international back to Barcelona in the next few days.

From Cancelo’s point of view, the defender’s situation at the Saudi club has also reinforced Barcelona’s belief that a solution is possible.

Significantly, he was omitted from Al Hilal’s matchday squad for their opening league game, while Simone Inzaghi has stated that the player’s future is ultimately an issue for the club to sort out.

Cancelo is close to returning to Barcelona. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

This would be Cancelo’s third spell at Barcelona following his earlier stay and his loan return during the second half of the 2025-26 season.

His most recent spell gave Hansi Flick another experienced choice in both full-back roles, with the Barcelona manager having previously pointed to the Portuguese player’s quality and attacking impact.

There will always be doubts about Cancelo’s defensive consistency, especially against the strongest opponents. Even so, his technical quality and versatility offer Barcelona a different profile.

A footballer who can play on both flanks of the defence can be particularly valuable over the course of a long season, especially for a squad involved in multiple competitions.

For Hansi Flick, Cancelo would not be an unfamiliar signing needing months to adapt, because he already knows the surroundings, and his earlier spell showed that he can offer an attacking outlet from deeper areas.

If Barcelona are able to complete the deal on favourable terms, Cancelo’s return could turn out to be a smart bit of business rather than a risky transfer bet.