Cancelo Waited in the Tunnel Wearing No. 2. Paperwork Stopped His Presentation

João Cancelo was already dressed in Barcelona’s official kit. Shirt number 2 on his back, standing in the tunnel with the rest of the squad, ready to walk out for the team presentation before the Joan Gamper Trophy. He was supposed to step onto the Spotify Camp Nou pitch with his new teammates. At the last moment he was told to change.

The signing has still not been made official. The final paperwork did not arrive in time. When the players were called out one by one by their numbers, Cancelo’s name was not announced. He stayed in the dressing room.

Lamine Yamal noticed. He asked him directly: “Aren’t you coming out?” Cancelo shrugged.

He then watched the match from the stands, sitting next to Rodri, who had already been presented.

This is Cancelo’s third spell at Barcelona. The first was a loan from Manchester City in 2023-24. The second was a loan from Al-Hilal from January to June 2026. Now it is meant to be permanent. The 32-year-old terminated his contract in Saudi Arabia, arrived in Barcelona on Monday 17 August and is due to sign until June 2029. The club wanted to announce him before the Gamper so he could be introduced to the fans. It did not happen.

After landing, Cancelo said he was where he wanted to be. He told Deco it was either Barcelona or a year sitting unused in Saudi Arabia while still collecting his salary. He gave up part of that salary because it was “Barça or nothing”.

In practice the deal is all but done. The official statement has not been published. The club spent Tuesday and Wednesday trying to rush the announcement. The last document missed the deadline.

Classic Barcelona. Player in the dressing room, shirt already on, supporters waiting, and the paperwork still running late. Cancelo is trying for the third time to stay for good. This time the obstacle was not competition on the flanks, but administration.

The announcement is expected in the coming hours. Until then he remains the player who is already there but is not yet officially there.