Barcelona ready to re-sign Joao Cancelo for third time

Portuguese defender João Cancelo is seriously considering a return to Barcelona, according to One.uz.

The possibility of the player returning to the Catalan club has been described as a unique event for both the transfer market and football history as a whole. According to Goal.com, Cancelo is ready to begin his third separate stint at Barcelona.

Mundo Deportivo reports that the footballer was obligated to sign a contract with Al-Hilal during his gardening leave, but his desire to return intensified after his move to Spain. He previously returned to Barcelona on loan during the 2021/22 season, before continuing his career in the Arab world.

Now, his potential return to Catalonia is considered a rare occurrence in football, as returning to the same club three times is extremely uncommon. Looking at Barcelona’s history, very few players have come back three times.

Hristo Stoychkov returned from Parma in 1995–1996, Dani Alves came back from San-Paulo in the 2021/22 season to play at Camp Nou, and Ivan de la Penya returned on loan from Las Palmas in the 2000/01 season.

Academy graduates Eric García, Jérémy Pike, and Jordi Alba also left the club at various points before later returning professionally to the first team. In world football, a three-time return is exceptionally rare, making this event a potential candidate for a historical record.

If João Cancelo’s transfer is completed successfully, he could become the record-holder for the most returns to Barcelona in the club’s history. Such an achievement would once again confirm players’ deep loyalty to their clubs and the viability of well-considered returns.

One.uz provides accurate and logical information on this matter.