So, it finally happened. Again.
If you’ve been following the social media rollercoaster over the last 24 hours, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Joao Cancelo is back. But man, in typical Barca fashion, it couldn’t just be a simple "here is the player, here is the shirt" kind of deal. Yesterday afternoon, the club’s official accounts went live with the announcement, only to scrub every single trace of it from the internet minutes later.
Deleted. Poof. Gone.
Fans were losing their minds. Was it a failed medical? A last-minute hijack from a Premier League giant? Nope. Just a missing "final document" and a bit of a paperwork headache between Barcelona and Al-Hilal. Honestly, it’s kinda poetic. It wouldn’t be a modern today fc barcelona news cycle without at least one minor heart attack for the Culers. By evening, the matter was settled, and the Portuguese defender is officially registered to wear the number 2 shirt for his second stint at the club.
Why Joao Cancelo solves a Hansi Flick headache
Hansi Flick has been doing magic with this squad, but the defensive line has been looking a bit thin lately. Andreas Christensen’s knee injury—a partial ACL tear from December—means he’s out until at least April. That’s a massive hole. While Ronald Araujo is finally back from his mental health break (and looked sharp coming off the bench in Jeddah), the full-back positions were still a worry.
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Cancelo isn't just a "body" in the room. He’s the world’s second most expensive defender in terms of cumulative transfer fees over a career. Think about that for a second. Even though Barca is getting him on loan because they still can't quite swing a permanent €30 million deal, his pedigree is undeniable. He knows the system. He knows the city. Most importantly, he gives Flick the tactical flexibility to push Jules Kounde back into the center if needed, or play a hyper-aggressive overlapping style that Al-Hilal probably wasn't utilizing to its full potential.
The Supercopa high and the Rashford dilemma
We have to talk about that 3-2 win over Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España final.
Winning a trophy in mid-January is great for the vibes, but the way it happened was wild. Raphinha is playing like a man possessed—two goals in the final, including that bizarre accidental winner where he slipped and the ball ricocheted off Raul Asencio. It was chaotic. It was messy. It was beautiful.
But there’s a shadow over the victory. Marcus Rashford.
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He’s been a revelation since joining on loan from Manchester United, racking up 7 goals and 11 assists in 27 games. He fits Flick’s high-pressing, vertical style perfectly. But here’s the kicker: Barca doesn't want to pay the £26 million (€30m) buy option. The club is currently in talks with United to either lower the price or—get this—do another loan for the 2026-27 season with a mandatory purchase later. It’s the same old dance. The financial "palancas" of the past are gone, and now it’s all about being "smart," as Flick put it recently.
Basically, the club is waiting for the new Spotify Camp Nou to finish so they can actually breathe. They’re paying €44 million in interest alone right now. It's a miracle they're even top of the league.
The injury room and who's coming back
If you’re looking for a silver lining in the medical reports, Gavi is the name to watch. He’s been out since August with that meniscus tear, and the latest word is a February return. Don't expect him to start games immediately, though. Flick is notoriously cautious with long-term knee recoveries.
Here is the current state of the "treatment table" as of Wednesday:
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- Gavi: Back in training, looking at early February.
- Andreas Christensen: April (ACL recovery).
- Frenkie de Jong: Physically fine, but suspended for the Copa del Rey clash against Racing Santander after that red card in the Clasico.
- Dani Olmo: Expected back mid-January, so likely on the bench this weekend.
- Marc-Andre ter Stegen: Getting closer, aiming for late January.
It's a lot to manage. You’ve got Robert Lewandowski, who at 37 is still scoring but whose future is suddenly a massive question mark. Flick was pretty blunt the other day, refusing to guarantee Lewandowski stays past this summer. With interest from Saudi Arabia and AC Milan, we might be watching the final months of the legendary Pole in a Barca shirt.
What to watch for next
The team is heading to El Sardinero this Thursday to face Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey last 16. It’s a "trap" game if I’ve ever seen one. Racing is leading the Segunda Division and they’ve already knocked out Villarreal.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve on today fc barcelona news, keep an eye on the lineup for Thursday. Flick is likely to rotate heavily. We might see more of the "kids"—Pau Cubarsi and Marc Casado—taking the lead while the veterans recover from the flight back from Saudi Arabia.
The big move is done: Cancelo is here. Now, the club has to prove that this momentum from the Supercopa isn't just a flash in the pan. They have a four-point lead over Madrid in La Liga, but with the Champions League resuming soon (Slavia Prague on the 21st), the squad depth is going to be tested like never before.
Next steps for fans: Keep an eye on the official registration for the Racing Santander match to ensure Cancelo’s paperwork didn't hit another snag. Also, watch the Marcus Rashford news closely; if United rejects the lower offer, Barca might have to start scouting a new winger sooner than they hoped.