‘I feel proud to have played there’ – Former Barcelona defender reflects on his time at the club

Joao Cancelo, who now plays for Al Hilal, has not forgotten his time at Barcelona and continues to speak fondly of his short but memorable spell at the club. 

The Portuguese defender revealed that playing for Barcelona was a dream come true for him, a goal he had always set for himself. 

For Cancelo, Barcelona was the club he had always wanted to join, despite a suggestion from his mentor, Pepe, that he should one day play for Real Madrid.

“Pepe told me that one day I had to play for Real Madrid, but I was a Barça fan,” he began saying as quoted by AS.

Proud to play for Barcelona

Cancelo reflected on his time at Barcelona, expressing great pride in the fact that he had the opportunity to play for a club he had long admired. He stated that his time with the Blaugrana was something he would always cherish. 

Joao Cancelo played for Barcelona for one season. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

“I am delighted with my time at Barcelona ​​because I can say that I played for the club I always wanted to play for. I am very proud,” he added.

Cancelo’s journey to Barcelona began in September 2023, when the club secured a loan deal for him from Manchester City.

Although his stay in Barcelona lasted only one season, it was a significant chapter in his career. During his time there, Cancelo featured in 42 matches, scoring four goals and providing five assists. 

These numbers, though impressive, did not match the scale of his contributions at Manchester City, where he had accumulated 154 appearances over a five-season period. 

Despite the relatively brief stay at Barcelona, Cancelo has expressed that he holds the club close to his heart.

His departure from Barcelona was driven by a few factors. Despite the excitement of joining, he was unable to fully convince the club to make his move permanent. 

Al Hilal eventually secured his transfer for around €40 million, making him one of the highest-paid players in the Saudi league, earning €17 million per season. Although his time in Barcelona was short, it remains a proud chapter in Cancelo’s career.