Inter Lead Race for João Cancelo After Reported Al‑Hilal Wage Concession

Overview

• João Cancelo is expected to leave Al‑Hilal in January and has asked agent Jorge Mendes to secure a return to Europe.
• Italian reports say Al‑Hilal are prepared to cover a significant share of his salary to enable a loan, with figures cited of Inter paying up to €3m net through June.
• Inter are pressing to finalize a short‑term deal and hope to register the defender quickly, though the move still requires the player’s approval and a formal club‑to‑club agreement.
• Barcelona have cooled on a return for Cancelo and are prioritizing a centre‑back, with internal doubts and cost concerns cited after initial enquiries.
• Juventus and several Premier League clubs are monitoring the situation, but the defender’s €15–18m net salary remains a major hurdle without a subsidy or a significant pay cut.