Joao Cancelo to Al-Hilal: The end of the road for a forgotten talent
The move to Al-Hilal marks a new chapter in Joao Cancelo's career, but also raises many questions about the future of one of the world's best full-backs at one time.
The unhappy ending of a fairy tale
When he joined Man City in 2019, Joao Cancelo was considered one of the team's most promising signings.
With his skillful technique, excellent dribbling ability and sharp tactical vision, the Portuguese defender quickly asserted his position in Pep Guardiola's squad.
However, the relationship between Cancelo and Guardiola began to crack from the beginning of 2023. Disagreements over tactics and fierce competition from young players caused Cancelo to gradually lose his official position. Continuously being pushed to Bayern Munich and Barcelona on loan further showed that his future at Etihad was over.
Al-Hilal: New destination, new challenge
The move to Al-Hilal is a major turning point in Cancelo's career. In Saudi Arabia, he will be playing alongside other big stars such as Neymar, Ruben Neves and Koulibaly. However, moving to a less competitive league also means that Cancelo will miss out on playing in the Champions League and other major tournaments.
