Barcelona will have ‘£21m obligation’ for Joao Cancelo loan deal from Manchester City – but only if they qualify for the Champions League knockout stages
Joao Cancelo is nearing an exit from Manchester City after falling out of favourBarcelona are reportedly willing to include an obligation to buy in the loan deal WATCH: ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ – Episode 2 – Mail Sport’s brand new football show
Barcelona may be obligated to make their prospective loan deal for Joao Cancelo permanent if they advance from the Champions League group stages, according to reports in Spain.
The LaLiga champions are edging closer to agreeing a deal for Manchester City’s wantaway defender, who spent the latter half of last season on-loan at Bayern Munich following a disagreement with Pep Guardiola.
Bayern were not committed to purchasing the 29-year-old and promptly sent him back to Manchester at the end of last season, however, according to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona would be willing to bind themselves to the player should a certain condition be met.
The outlet report that Xavi’s side will be forced to pay £21.4million (€25m) should they qualify from the group stages of this season’s Champions League.
That prospect may have seemed like a formality in yesteryear, but despite winning the Spanish top-flight last season, the Catalan giants still managed to crash out of Europe’s premier competition at the first hurdle for the second consecutive year.
Joao Cancelo is reportedly close to finally leaving the Etihad and joining LaLiga side Barcelona
Barcelona manager Xavi is keen to bring the City wantaway to the club this summer
Man City have already bolstered their defence with the addition of highly-rated Josko Gvardiol
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The Portuguese international is waiting in the wings after already agreeing personal terms with Barcelona as talks over his transfer are finalised.
The club have enjoyed a productive summer in the transfer market, already bringing in former City captain Ilkay Gundogan, Oriol Romeu and Inigo Martinez on permanent deals.
Cancelo hasn’t featured in either of City’s matchday squads for Premier League clashes with Burnley and Newcastle and wasn’t involved in last week’s midweek UEFA Super Cup clash against Sevilla.
City have already reinforced their defence this summer with the acquisition of Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig.
