According to a recent report by the Telegraph (Paid Subscription Required), La Liga giants Barcelona are said to be targeting Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo, in a swap deal that would see fellow Portuguese teammate Nelson Semedo going in the opposite direction. The report suggests that swap deals are likely to become a trend over the upcoming summer window, as a result of the effects that the Corona Virus pandemic has had on the footballing scene.
It has been suggested that Nelson Semedo’s future at Barcelona has been on the fringes for a while now and that there has been constant talk about a potential move away from the Nou Camp. It has been claimed that Semedo said just in February that the new coach has a lot of confidence in him, but as it turns out, the 26-year-old could be replaced by Manchester City flop Joao Cancelo by the end of the summer window.
What Has Joao Cancelo’s Career Been Like So Far?
The 25-year-old began his professional career at Benfica, and after short stints at Valencia and Inter, the full-back went on to join Italian giants Juventus. The Portuguese international was an instant hit at the Allianz Stadium, where he quickly became a feature of the first-team. His performances for Juventus likely are what tempted the Citizens to go for Cancelo and offer Danilo to the Old Lady in his stead.
Since arriving, the defender’s involvement has been minimal, primarily because he’s competing for the same position as English international Kyle Walker. The former Tottenham man is widely considered as one of the best in the world, and competing with him, let alone replacing him in the starting eleven, was always going to be an uphill task.
The former Benfica academy graduate has played in just 11 Premier League fixtures for the reigning champions this season, and his place in the side is still up in the air.
Should The Citizens Go For Semedo In Exchange Of Cancelo?
The number of full-backs that the Citizens have gone through over the last few seasons can only be branded as silly, especially considering that they already boast Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy – two of the best at what they do. On that regard though, it’s safe to say that Joao Cancelo has been extremely underwhelming. The former Juventus man just doesn’t offer the same level of energy or attacking creativity as Walker, meaning that his playing time has been extremely limited.
Moreover, Nelson Semedo has been getting regular first-team football in a team that includes the likes of Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets. The 26-year-old has featured in 21 league appearances for Barcelona this season and has picked up three assists along the way. Despite being a year older than Cancelo, Semedo offers a much more balanced skill-set, while he is more dangerous in the forward areas of the pitch as well. Cancelo has proven himself to be poorly suited to Premier League football throughout the season, and signing Semedo in his stead could turn out to be a master-stroke by Pep.
