Barcelona give bizarre 'thanks' to new signing
FT Desk
- 2 Sept 2023 17:30 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona publicly thanked Joao Cancelo for his "financial sacrifice" after clinching a move for the Manchester City full-back.
The Portugal international left the Etihad Stadium on loan towards the end of deadline day, joining compatriot Joao Felix in moving to Catalunya on Friday.
It is his second temporary move of the year, having previously spent the second of 2022-23 with Bayern Munich after falling out of favour with City boss Pep Guardiola.
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Curiously enough, however, his new club chose to dwell on the economic circumstances of his transfer upon announcing him as a Blaugrana player.
"The Club wishes to thank the player publicly for the financial effort made and his desire to wear the Barca shirt."
What is Cancelo's 'sacrifice'?
Cancelo, however, will not be cutting his wages to move to Camp Nou, and Barca president Joan Laporta later suggested that agent Jorge Mendes may have reduced his share of the transfer in order to push it through.
“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," Laporta said.
"A lot of work has been done to bring him here, it has not been easy, many obstacles have been overcome.
“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.”
Cancelo and Felix could make their club debuts as early as Sunday, when Barca visit Osasuna.
