Joao Cancelo completed a loan move to Barcelona on Friday night, overcoming initial concerns that the deal might not go through. The player did not travel to Spain until the transfer deadline day, as the deal had been pending since Monday. Barcelona's financial arrangements were finalized at the very last moment.
Ultimately, Barcelona managed to sign both Cancelo and Joao Felix, with both players reportedly agreeing to a salary reduction. They made their debuts in the recent game against Osasuna, and Cancelo made a strong impression with his 30-minute appearance.
According to a report from SPORT today, Xavi has complete confidence in Cancelo's quality and considers him a top-tier player who can make an immediate impact for the team. Xavi had been interested in working with Cancelo since January but lost out to Bayern Munich during the 2023 winter transfer window.
It has been suggested that Barcelona's manager Xavi plans to utilize Cancelo in a manner similar to how Pep Guardiola used him. Barcelona believe Cancelo's adaptability will allow him to seamlessly fit into the team. His previous experience working with Guardiola at Etihad is expected to facilitate his transition, as Barcelona's playing style under Xavi is not significantly different.
There are already signs that Xavi intends to use Cancelo in a manner reminiscent of Pep's approach at City. In his debut against Osasuna, Cancelo frequently moved from his full-back position to join the midfield, a tactic he used regularly during his time in a Manchester City jersey.
Xavi views Cancelo as an essential part of his plans and intends to make him a regular starter in the Barcelona lineup.
Source: Manchester City News / Join us on Telegram!/ Follow us on Twitter!