Manchester City have reportedly agreed to remove the option to clause for Barcelona on Joao Cancelo, as they seek to sign the full-back before the transfer deadline.
There has been a bit of chaos surrounding this proposed deal in the last couple of days.
Everything seemed on track for Cancelo to sign for the Spanish giants.
But it has been reported that the club’ financial issues are holding things up.
Cancelo had even been waiting at Lisbon airport on Monday, waiting to fly to Spain by private jet. He was told not to fly until the issues were resolved.
And now, it’s being suggested that City are now ready to remove the option to buy clause that had been agreed with Barca…
Manchester City agree to remove Joao Cancelo option to buy clause for Barcelona
According to Spanish publication SPORT, the two parties have now agreed to ‘eliminate the purchase option clause’ for £60 million star Cancelo.
The reason for this is so that so that the money in question ‘does not count towards the current financial year’.
Yesterday, it was claimed that Barca president Joan Laporta was preparing to sign a bank guarantee – at a risk to his own personal wealth – to provide the club with a £17 million injection of cash.
SPORT say Laporta has now done this, and that the guarantee has been sent to La Liga.
Joao Cancelo to Barcelona seems to be touch and go as transfer deadline looms
This is a messy situation, and it is really strange that City are doing business with Barcelona.
Because the club still reportedly owe money to City for Ferran Torres.
City’s willingness to deal with this club after that is difficult to understand.
If it’s true that the clubs are now set to remove the option to buy on Cancel, then that is just baffling.
Essentially, it would mean City are giving the ‘outstanding’ Cancelo away for a year. It’s very possible that his value could be much lower next summer than it is now.
One wonders if Cancelo’s desire to only join Barca, and Barca only, is a driving factor.
