<figure id="attachment_3256266" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3256266" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3256266 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ca260d1a-13501437_cropped_1.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3256266" class="wp-caption-text">Joao Cancelo, a part of the Portugal squad that won the Nations League in 2018-2019, scored two goals and provided two assists in Portugal&#8217;s World Cup qualifying campaign. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
BARCELONA: Portugal defender Joao Cancelo has returned to Barcelona after the Spanish champions signed the 31-year-old on loan from Saudi side Al-Hilal for the rest of the season.
Cancelo previously spent a year at Barcelona after joining on loan from Manchester City in 2023, appearing in 32 LaLiga matches.
The three-times Premier League winner joined Al-Hilal in August 2024.
&#8220;FC Barcelona and Al-Hilal Saudi FC have reached an agreement for the loan of the Portuguese full-back until the end of the season.
&#8220;He will wear the number two shirt,&#8221; Barcelona said in a statement today.
Two hamstring injuries sidelined Cancelo for more than two months last year, but he returned in time for the Club World Cup, where he played a key part with an assist when Al-Hilal knocked out Manchester City 4-3 in the round of 16.
Cancelo, a part of the Portugal squad that won the Nations League in 2018-2019, scored two goals and provided two assists in Portugal&#8217;s successful campaign to qualify for this year&#8217;s World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada.
LaLiga leaders Barcelona are away to Racing in a Copa del Rey match on Thursday.

MatchPoint Times

Portugal’s Cancelo returns to Barcelona on loan from Al-Hilal

FC Barcelona and Al-Hilal Saudi FC have reached an agreement for the loan of the Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo until the end of the season.

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