João Cancelo has opened up about the circumstances that led to his departure from Al Hilal and his move to Barcelona during the summer transfer window. The Portuguese full-back, now at the Catalan club, explained the stance he took to secure the switch.
Forcing the Move to Barcelona
Barcelona completed the signing of Cancelo on a three-year contract after he ended his association with Al Hilal, where he had been playing since the summer of 2024. In comments reported by the Catalan newspaper Sport, Cancelo made his feelings clear about the destination.
“I am at the club I always wanted to play for,” he said.
He then detailed the conversation with his former club: “I had one year left on my contract with Al Hilal, and I told them either I stay and receive my full salary, or I do not go anywhere else — Barcelona or no other club.”
Ballon d’Or Pick: Lamine Yamal
Cancelo also named his Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal as his choice to win the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player in 2026, stating that no one else deserves it.
“The only player who deserves to win the Ballon d’Or is Lamine Yamal. He has won many titles at nineteen years old: the World Cup, the European Championship, and all the titles with Barcelona,” Cancelo said.
He added: “His season was amazing, and he is by a large margin the best talent and the best player in the world. For me, no other player can win the Ballon d’Or; it must go to Lamine.”