FC Barcelona, ​​close to 'signing' the right back that Hansi Flick has requested

FC Barcelona is fully aware that in addition to reinforcing the forward line with Nico Williams and Dani Olmo, and the midfield with Mikel Merino, it could also need a signing for the right back. The departure of Joao Cancelo, who ended his loan on July 1, leaves only Jules Koundé, a central defender converted to a winger, Héctor Fort and Julián Araujo as options. Although Fort gave a great level in the games he played with Xavi Hernández and Julián gave a good performance in Las Palmas, it seems that Hansi Flick wants someone with more experience to compete with Koundé for the position.

For this reason, Barça has been working for weeks on the return of Cancelo, who is the first option of the club and the German coach. Although other names have been mentioned, such as Frimpong or more recently Daniel Muñoz, the Barcelona fans' priority is to 'play back' the now Manchester City player. The decision has been made and, in fact, according to the newspaper 'SPORT', the right-footed winger is getting closer to being able to return to Barcelona.

Barça is closer to Joao's return

At first, those from Manchester refused to let Joao leave on loan again, which was the method that Barcelona has always wanted. However, time has passed, the player has refused to leave for other teams and it seems that in the end the English are going to end up giving in and allowing him to return to the Camp Nou on loan. The question is whether Barça will try to include some type of purchase option to keep the player in ownership in 2025.

The feeling is that the Blaugrana will seek to agree with City on some type of clause so that, if the Portuguese's performance is good, he will also remain in the team next year and surely at least a couple more. That will depend, of course, on his level, since this past campaign was too irregular and he alternated games with other very poor ones in which he was even singled out. If his return is confirmed, he will first have to earn his place in the XI, something that will not be easy with Koundé, and then he will have to show that he deserves the expense that the Catalans would have to make to keep him.

Héctor Fort and Araujo, the biggest losers

With Joao's return now more than foreseeable, Barcelona will have to decide what to do with Héctor Fort and Julián Araujo. The youth player has a lot of future ahead of him and is a long-term bet for the club, so he could continue training in the reserve team, waiting to find a place in the first team. The Mexican, however, if he does not have a place with Flick, he will almost certainly have to leave on loan for another season, as already happened this past year in Las Palmas, or even transferred.