Al Hilal launch first bid for Manchester City defender – deal worth staggering €104 million

Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal have submitted a first bid for Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo.

The defender, who hasn’t featured for Manchester City since a 1-2 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford in January 2023, has enjoyed recent loan spells at both Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona following a dramatic training ground bust-up at the City Football Academy.

Cancelo has been training with Pep Guardiola’s first-team in recent weeks, but has been absent from the matchday squad for fixtures against both Manchester United and Chelsea, with the 30-year-old having been eyeing a return to the Camp Nou.

The Portugal international spent the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign in Catalonia, featuring heavily across both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League for Barcelona under the management of Xavi.

The 30-year-old is unlikely to secure a return to the Spanish heavyweights this summer however, with the Saudi Pro League having emerged as the most likely destination for the defender, who is contracted at the Etihad Stadium until 2027.

Cancelo has made 154 appearances for Manchester City since arriving in 2019, winning a number of trophies, including three Premier League titles.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Al Hilal have submitted a formal bid to sign Cancelo this summer, with negotiations now underway between the Saudi Pro League side, Jorge Mendes and Etihad officials.

The defender is Al Hilal’s ‘first choice’, with the club reportedly already preparing to sanction the sale of Saud Abdulhamid to AS Roma, should Cancelo complete a move to the Middle East.

Cancelo could be subject to a staggering financial offer from Al Hilal, with it claimed that the Portuguese full-back could earn a mouthwatering €66 million over the course of a three-year contract, in a deal worth over €100 million.

The 30-year-old would become Manchester City’s third sale to Saudi Arabia, following the exits of both Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte last summer.