Joao Cancelo speaks at Barcelona presentation: “It’s the best club for me”
After a long wait through the summer, Joao Cancelo finally completed his move to FC Barcelona on the transfer deadline day, arriving on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City.
The right-back spot had been a major concern for Barcelona and Xavi Hernandez pushed and pressed the club to sign Cancelo and eventually, the manager got his man, with the 29-year-old now a Culer.
Following his signing last night, Cancelo was officially presented as a Barcelona player with president Joan Laporta, vice-president Rafa Yuste, and sporting director Deco among those in attendance.
Dream come true for Cancelo
Echoing what his compatriot and fellow new signing Joao Felix said just a while ago, Cancelo also admitted how joining Barcelona was a dream come true for him.
“It’s a dream come true. I want to thank my family, my agent, my mother, who in heaven sees me every day. She knows the club I dreamed of playing for,” the full-back said.
The 29-year-old then went on to state how many of his idols played for Barça and mentioned the aspects that make it the perfect fit for him, saying:
Whoever knows me knows that my idols all played here, a club that I identify with a lot, always being in the opponent’s half of the pitch, for possession, it’s the best club for me.”
Outlining his objectives with the Blaugrana and what he would bring to the team, Cancelo added:
“I’m very excited, I come with commitment and humility to win titles because that’s what this club lives for. I like the pressure here and I hope it will be a season of titles. I will bring work, commitment and be united to win titles.”
Cancelo has some familiar faces in the dressing room having previously played with the likes of Ferran Torres and Ilkay Gundogan at Manchester City. The right-back revealed that he had spoken to a few players already, saying:
I’ve been able to talk to some of my teammates [Ferran, Gündo…] and there’s a spectacular group. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Laporta, Deco very happy with Cancelo’s signing
President Laporta was visibly delighted with Cancelo’s signing and welcomed the Portuguese international to the club by saying:
“A player of extraordinary talent: a specialist right-back that both the coach and the sporting director wanted. Cancelo is a full-back, a very versatile player. A player who, despite being very young, has a lot of experience.”
He knows perfectly well what the club represents, we have talked about it. He is very mature, with a lot of experience and I want to emphasise that he has shown absolute commitment to come,” Laporta added.
Acknowledging the delays that ensued in the deal being completed, the club president said:
“It is an operation that perhaps should have been done a long time ago, but today is the day and I wish you a lot of luck and success. A lot of work has been done to bring him here, it has not been easy, many obstacles have been overcome.”
Laporta also thanked Cancelo’s agent Jorge Mendes for his efforts in pushing through the deal, saying: “We thank Mendes and his team, who have done everything they could to get him here. They have even sacrificed a part of what they were entitled to and it looks very good.”
Further adding on how important a signing Cancelo could be, Laporta stated: “Cancelo is a fundamental piece to aspire to what we want to win. With players like him, we can aspire to win everything. I’m convinced that he will help this teamwork to achieve its objectives and give the fans a lot of joy.”
Sporting director Deco also had some words about Cancelo and the efforts that went into signing him, as he said:
“We are going to improve a lot with him for a position we were looking for. With him we will be a more balanced, more competitive team and we have worked with the coach to find solutions.
If the player hadn’t made this effort he wouldn’t have come. We have tried everything and here he is. The coach is happy and knows that with the two Joaos we have more options.”
