{
  "id": 1555725,
  "title": "Transfer: ‘Either I join Barça or spend a year without playing’ – Cancelo takes salary cut",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/transfer-either-i-join-barca-or-spend-a-year-without-playing-cancelo",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-17T20:34:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/17/transfer-either-i-join-barca-or-spend-a-year-without-playing-cancelo-takes-salary-cut/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo has revealed that he is willing to accept a salary reduction if it means staying away from football for a year instead of continuing at Al Hilal. The 32-year-old Portuguese defender is set to join Barcelona on a three-year deal. Cancelo stated that he had to cut his salary in order to sign with the Spanish club, as he was either going to play for Barcelona or spend a year without playing football while still receiving his wages. The defender previously spent time on loan at Barcelona last season, making 23 appearances and scoring four goals and providing four assists. He also had another loan spell at Barcelona during the 2023-24 season, contributing with four goals and five assists in 42 matches. Cancelo expressed his excitement about joining Barca, saying, \"I’m very happy, I’m very pleased to be here, I’m where I want to be. I trained separately for a week. I informed Deco that it was either I came here or I would spend a year there without playing, while still receiving my salary.\" The former Manchester City player hopes to help Barcelona build a strong team and achieve multiple titles during his time at the club.",
  "summary": "Former Manchester City player, Joao Cancelo, has expressed that he would prefer to stay away from playing football for an entire season rather than continue at Al Hilal. He said this ahead of his transfer to Barcelona, revealing that he has accepted a reduction in salary to join the Blaugrana this summer. The Portuguese defender […] Transfer: ‘Either I join Barça or spend a year without playing’…",
  "key_points": [
    "Joao Cancelo willing to accept salary cut for Barcelona",
    "Defender to join Barça on three-year deal",
    "Cancelo prefers playing over year without football"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}