After a long wait through the summer, Joao Cancelo finally completed his move to FC Barcelona on the transfer deadline day, arriving on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City.

The right-back spot had been a major concern for Barcelona and Xavi Hernandez pushed and pressed the club to sign Cancelo and eventually, the manager got his man, with the 29-year-old now a Culer.

Following his signing last night, Cancelo was officially presented as a Barcelona player with president Joan Laporta, vice-president Rafa Yuste, and sporting director Deco among those in attendance.

Dream come true for Cancelo

Echoing what his compatriot and fellow new signing Joao Felix said just a while ago, Cancelo also admitted how joining Barcelona was a dream come true for him.

“It’s a dream come true. I want to thank my family, my agent, my mother, who in heaven sees me every day. She knows the club I dreamed of playing for,” the full-back said.

The 29-year-old then went on to state how many of his idols played for Barça and mentioned the aspects that make it the perfect fit for him, saying:

“Whoever knows me knows that my idols all played here, a club that I identify with a lot, always being in the opponent’s half of the pitch, for possession, it’s the best club for me.”

Outlining his objectives with the Blaugrana and what he would bring to the team, Cancelo added:

“I’m very excited, I come with commitment and humility to win titles because that’s what this club lives for. I like the pressure here and I hope it will be a season of titles. I will bring work, commitment and be united to win titles.”

Cancelo has some familiar faces in the dressing room having previously played with the likes of Ferran Torres and Ilkay Gundogan at Manchester City. The right-back revealed that he had spoken to a few players already, saying:

“I’ve been able to talk to some of my teammates [Ferran, Gündo…] and there’s a spectacular group. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Laporta, Deco very happy with Cancelo’s signing

President Laporta was visibly delighted with Cancelo’s signing and welcomed the Portuguese international to the club by saying:

“A player of extraordinary talent: a specialist right-back that both the coach and the sporting director wanted. Cancelo is a full-back, a very versatile player. A player who, despite being very young, has a lot of experience.”

Laporta and Cancelo all smiles. (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

“He knows perfectly well what the club represents, we have talked about it. He is very mature, with a lot of experience and I want to emphasise that he has shown absolute commitment to come,” Laporta added.

Acknowledging the delays that ensued in the deal being completed, the club president said:

“It is an operation that perhaps should have been done a long time ago, but today is the day and I wish you a lot of luck and success. A lot of work has been done to bring him here, it has not been easy, many obstacles have been overcome.”

Laporta also thanked Cancelo’s agent Jorge Mendes for his efforts in pushing through the deal, saying: “We thank Mendes and his team, who have done everything they could to get him here. They have even sacrificed a part of what they were entitled to and it looks very good.”

Further adding on how important a signing Cancelo could be, Laporta stated: “Cancelo is a fundamental piece to aspire to what we want to win. With players like him, we can aspire to win everything. I’m convinced that he will help this teamwork to achieve its objectives and give the fans a lot of joy.”

Sporting director Deco also had some words about Cancelo and the efforts that went into signing him, as he said:

“We are going to improve a lot with him for a position we were looking for. With him we will be a more balanced, more competitive team and we have worked with the coach to find solutions.

“If the player hadn’t made this effort he wouldn’t have come. We have tried everything and here he is. The coach is happy and knows that with the two Joaos we have more options.”

Joao Felix delighted over Barcelona move: “It was a dream since I was a child

Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images

     

 

 

Having completed his loan move to FC Barcelona from Atletico Madrid on the transfer deadline day on Friday, Joao Felix was presented as a Barça player earlier today.

Following the contract signings with president Joan Laporta, the 23-year-old Portuguese international spoke about what the move meant for him and how he is here to help the club achieve more success.

Felix very happy with dream move

“Everyone knows how happy I am to be here. It was a dream of mine as a child. I’ve been watching Barça since I was a kid, I’m here to help, to be one more and to have a great season,” said an elated Joao Felix.

It is no secret that the 23-year-old had better offers from elsewhere this summer, but he opted to wait for Barcelona and expressed his delight about the move finally being completed.

“It’s a unique feeling, something I’ve been looking for for a long time. When I found out about the interest I was very happy and with everyone’s effort it was achieved,” he admitted.

“I insist since I was a child, me, my father, my brother have always been Barça fans and I had this desire to work to reach the highest level and here I am. That’s where the passion for this club comes from,” the former SL Benfica wonderkid added.

Looking forward to the season, Felix stated that he wanted to win trophies with Barcelona, highlighting the UEFA Champions League as his main dream.

“I hope it will be a great season, that we give a lot of joy, that we fight for titles because this club lives on greatness. The Champions League is the title of my dreams and we will do everything to achieve it,” Felix stated.

Laporta, Deco welcome Felix

Prior to Felix speaking, Barcelona president Joan Laporta took the stage and welcomed the Portuguese international, hailing him as a special player who can succeed in the club’s system and style of play.

“It is a very important day for the club. We brought in a very talented player. And we think that Joao’s talent can be fully expressed with our system of play. He is very motivated and so are we,” the president said.

Going on to thank everyone involved in the deal for their efforts, Laporta added: “He has shown a commitment to the club and it has been made possible thanks to the work of our team, of Deco, it has not been easy. There have been many difficulties. And on the part of his agent, Mendes, who also made a great effort.”

Stressing on the efforts made by Felix to join the club, the Barcelona supremo said: “But above all, I would highlight the great effort of the player. We are very excited, with Felix the squad has improved a lot.”

Newly-appointed sporting director Deco also had a few words to say as he expressed how at one point Barça thought the deal would be impossible.

“From the first minute Joao has shown that he wanted to come to the club. It was very difficult but together with the coach we knew that we had a space for Joao,” Deco said.

“I think he can contribute a lot, he will give Xavi more solutions and we grow as a team with Joao. I wish him luck and I hope he helps us a lot.”

In a nice touch, Laporta also made sure to mention the efforts of Mateu Alemany, who brought an end to his chapter at the club last night after the culmination of the transfer window.

“I want to highlight the work of Mateu, who in principle is planning to leave. He has worked side by side with Deco until the end and that is a reason to praise him. He is a great professional and knows that Barça’s doors will always be open to him,” he said.