João Cancelo’s previously expressed desire to return to European football may be about to come true. According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, the operation that will see the Portuguese international wear the Inter Milan shirt again, a club he already represented in 2017/18, on loan from Valencia, is moving quickly and it is the intention of the Nerazzurri have him in the important game with Naples, scheduled for January 11th.
The Italian daily reports that negotiations did not stop even on the last day of 2025, with the intervention of agent Jorge Mendes, and Cancelo is expected to play for the Milan team on loan from Al Hilal. João Cancelo’s situation in the Saudis is not the best and Simone Inzaghi does not have the Portuguese international, who intends to return to Europe to have playing time, especially thinking about being called up for next summer’s World Cup.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, Inter is close to completing the deal, with Al Hilal preparing to assume half of the player’s missing salary bill — 15 million euros clean per year —, as only under this condition will the Italian team be able to receive Cancelo. The transalpine newspaper also states that Barcelona and Benfica have also expressed interest in the return of the full-back, but it should be in Serie A that his near future will pass.
