The true Cancelo has finally shown his face at Barca

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Club should save their money...

Within the space of a few days, Barcelona fans have finally accepted that Pep Guardiola was right about Joao Cancelo all along.

His performances against both Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid show that he’s not an elite level player and certainly not one that deserves a permanent Barcelona contract.

At best he could be offered another loan deal but would arguably need to play second fiddle because his way of working in the two biggest games of the season to date was woeful.

When going forward he can and has been a reasonable enough supplementary attacking presence.

He’s played some decent balls in and got on the end of some crosses himself.

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However, Joan Cancelo’s primary responsibility is to defend, and on far too many occasions he’s found wanting in the big moments.

Switching off for Lucas Vazquez’s goal against Real Madrid was as unforgivable as the foul on Ousmane Dembele in the Paris Saint-Germain game.

Both lamentable decisions that effectively cost Barcelona the match in each case.

For anyone defending him and perhaps using the fact that Barcelona don’t have too much strength in depth as a good enough reason to keep him... be careful what you wish for.

He has been at the club long enough now to know the nuances of what’s required to be successful in the team.

That he still can’t execute the most basic of defensive principles highlights a player that either doesn’t listen or isn’t capable. Or both.

I’m particularly bothered by the Vazquez goal.

Los Blancos have hardly used him this season and it can’t be said that he was truly ‘match fit,’ and yet he consistently eased past Cancelo in the game.

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He was hardly tracked by the Portuguese and the goal, when it arrived, and regrettable though it was, wasn’t really a surprise.

It seems that Cancelo has a penchant for ball watching when in defensive mode which speaks of a player that still has a lot to learn.

That shouldn’t even be a consideration for a player of 29 years of age that’s played for Man City and Bayern as well as Inter, Juve and ourselves, and yet it’s now obvious why neither of the first two teams wanted him and why his stay at the two Italian giants was short and sweet.

He is a liability defensively and if we do end up keeping him, it can only be because Jorge Mendes has got his claws in even further at Barça, or there simply aren’t any other options available at this point in time that club management are comfortable with.

Source: barcablaugranes.com