Al Hilal Presses to Sign Cancelo from Manchester City

Saudi club Al Hilal has made an official bid to sign Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo from Manchester City, aiming to bolster their squad for the upcoming season under the guidance of Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus.

According to the Catalan newspaper Sport, Al Hilal’s offer is valued at €18 million. Negotiations between the two clubs are ongoing, with both sides working towards finalizing the deal.

Al Hilal is keen on strengthening their team with multiple signings during the current summer transfer window, driven by Jesus’ desire to solidify the squad, especially amid rumors of Saud Abdulhamid’s potential move to Roma. This potential departure could leave a gap in their defensive options.

The transfer of Abdulhamid seems precarious as Al Hilal seeks to secure a world-class full-back before allowing him to leave. They are also looking to maximize the financial return from his sale, even though the player has just one year left on his contract, which he has declined to renew on multiple occasions.

Additionally, there is a third concern about offloading Abdulhamid— the fear that he might return to Saudi football through another club, with recent reports suggesting that Abdulhamid could make a strong return to Al-Ittihad Jeddah. This possibility worries Al Hilal, who dominated the local titles last season.