Chaotic Unveiling for Joao Cancelo as Barcelona Delay Presentation Amid Documentation Hurdles

Key Takeaways:

• Barcelona cancelled Joao Cancelo’s official presentation today after press and media had already gathered
• Al-Hilal have requested final paperwork, delaying the Portuguese defender’s loan move until the end of the season
• The Catalans plan to pay approximately €5m for the 31-year-old’s services, covering over half his €7.5m annual salary in Saudi Arabia

Last-Minute Disruption at Camp Nou: Documentation Complications

Barcelona announced on Monday that Joao Cancelo would be joining the club on loan until season’s end, having arrived from Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal. After passing his medical, Cancelo seemed set for his unveiling, with a signing ceremony scheduled for 13:00 CEST on Tuesday, followed by a press conference. However, events took an unexpected turn: just moments after the press conference was due to commence, both the event and the club’s announcement of Cancelo’s arrival were abruptly withdrawn.

🚨 NEW: João Cancelo's press conference will now take place at 4:45 PM. pic.twitter.com/NMlsNzZ2qN

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) January 13, 2026

According to Sport, the dramatic change in plans centred on unresolved documentation. Al-Hilal reportedly requested that Barcelona send several finalised papers with the necessary signatures to conclude the transfer. This demand was communicated to Barcelona at the last minute, catching organisers and the assembled media off guard.

Barcelona’s Reassurance Amid Delays

Despite the confusion, Barcelona have expressed confidence that Joao Cancelo’s move will still be completed as planned. Initially, club sources attributed the postponement solely to the outstanding paperwork. Subsequently, they stated Cancelo’s presentation would now take place at 16:45 CEST and suggested the delay was due to a personal lunch arrangement by the player. Nonetheless, the press were left waiting for two hours before being officially informed of the change in schedule.

Financial Details and Injury Rule Activation

Barcelona have triggered the emergency injury exemption enabling them to utilise 80% of Andreas Christensen’s wage budget on a replacement. The bulk of that space is earmarked for Cancelo, with the club set to pay around €5m for the 31-year-old’s services until the season concludes. This payout will cover more than half of Cancelo’s entitled €7.5m salary at Al-Hilal for the current year.