It was a busy deadline day for Barcelona, as they completed a double loan swoop for Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo. Both Felix and Cancelo have had rifts, one way or another, with the managers of the parent clubs. Cancelo was sent out to Bayern Munich from Manchester City, while Felix was sent out to Chelsea from Atletico Madrid on loan.
Their time at Barcelona will be a break from the issues with their respective parent clubs, but none of their loan deals contains an option to buy from Barcelona. Hence, they may return to their respective clubs at the end of the season.
Joao Felix completes dream move to Barcelona
Joao Felix is now an Atleti outcast for the second time. Atletico Madrid paid well over £100 million for the player, but he has now been loaned out on two separate occasions. The Blaugranas won’t have the option to secure his permanent stay with a buy-option, but head coach Xavi remains optimistic that the player’s contributions can aid the team in their quest for consecutive league titles.
Felix can finally breathe a sigh of relief as he puts his turbulent Atletico Madrid chapter to a temporary halt. The 23-year-old Portuguese had a major rift with Diego Simeone, and this resulted in his temporary demotion to the youth team earlier in the summer. The club had previously loaned Felix out to Chelsea last season, where he made 16 appearances, scoring four goals.
In July, he openly expressed his aspiration to fulfill his “dream” of joining Camp Nou. There were even rumors that if he could not join Barcelona, he’d move to the SPL, with some Saudi clubs interested in the player.
However, now his dream of becoming a Barcelona player is fulfilled. Felix has finally joined Barcelona on a season-long loan without an option to buy, and Barcelona will be hoping that the player will improve the squad significantly.
Joao Cancelo joins Barcelona
Barcelona’s coach, Xavi, has been keen on strengthening his defense, especially in the right-back position. He had previously had to improvise, playing center-backs like Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo in that crucial position. Sergino Dest would have been a perfect fit, but he has struggled playing for the club and has departed for PSV Eindhoven.
Barcelona was initially uncertain as to whether Joao Cancelo was the right choice for that position. They had the opportunity to opt for a younger right-back in Iván Fresneda of Real Valladolid, but eventually, Barcelona chose a more experienced right-back in Joao Cancelo.
The club has faced financial constraints that have influenced their transfer strategy. As a result, they’ve set their sights on free-agent signings such as Gundogan and Martinez, as well as exploring budget-friendly options like Romeu. Their recent move to acquire Cancelo on a loan basis further reflects their prudent approach to bolstering the squad.
Do you think the Portuguese duo will shine in Camp Nou? Make sure to let us know what you think in the comments.
