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Manchester City 'refuse' to budge on Joao Cancelo's £25m asking price

By Ben Sully | 17 June 2024

Man City 'refuse' to budge on defender's valuation

Manchester City are reportedly refusing to budge on their £25m asking price for defender Joao Cancelo, who is hoping to return to Barcelona this summer.

Manchester City are reportedly unprepared to compromise on their £25m valuation for defender Joao Cancelo.

The attack-minded full-back has made 154 competitive appearances since joining Man City from Juventus in the summer of 2019.

However, he has not featured for the Citizens since January 2022 after it was alleged that he fell out with manager Pep Guardiola.

After falling out of favour at Man City, Cancelo spent the second half of the 2022-23 season on loan with Bayern Munich.

The Portugal international then headed back out on loan last summer, joining Barcelona on a season-long loan deal, contributing four goals and five assists in 42 competitive appearances.

Portugal's Joao Cancelo shoots at goal on June 4, 2024 © Reuters

Man City refusing to drop Cancelo asking price

Although the loan deal has come to an end, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that the club want to bring Cancelo back to La Liga.

Cancelo is also keen to return to the Catalan giants, but Man City's asking price is proving to be a stumbling block.

According to The Sun, the Premier League champions are reluctant to budge on their £25m valuation, with Cancelo still under contract until the summer of 2027.

Barcelona are unable to meet Man City's asking price due to their well-documented financial concerns, but they will continue to pursue another loan deal for the 30-year-old.

However, the Citizens will only sanction another temporary departure if they receive a loan fee and Barcelona pay his £180,000-a-week wages in full.

Man City will also seek to include an obligation to buy for next summer as they look to get Cancelo off their books.

Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo on September 23, 2023 © Reuters

Cancelo focused on Euro 2024

Guardiola has insisted that Cancelo will have to return to the club for pre-season if Barcelona are unable to agree a deal with Man City.

Although he could still return to the Etihad Stadium, Cancelo has made it clear that his current focus is on Portugal's Euro 2024 campaign.

Cancelo told reporters: "It created a certain uncertainty [the speculation over his future] when I was off, but, from the first day here, I forgot all that. I'm 100% focused on the national team and 100% focused on helping Portugal.

"Euro 2020 was unfair to me [after he missed the tournament through Covid], and I now want to give an answer for myself, for my family, for those who love me and for my friends who wanted to be here, that a day they dreamed, like me. Therefore, I will put all my cards on the table, give my all and help Portugal to the fullest."

Cancelo is expected to be named in Roberto Martinez's starting lineup when Portugal face Czech Republic in their tournament opener on Tuesday.