In a surprising and significant development in the current winter transfer window, the board of directors of Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal club officially approved the departure of Portuguese star João Cancelo, the team's right-back, to join Italian club Inter Milan. This move comes after a series of intensive negotiations that culminated in success, with an agreement reached on all financial and contractual terms that guarantee the player's return to Serie A.
According to a report published by the widely circulated Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Al-Hilal's management has given the green light to finalize the deal on a six-month loan, extending the player's contract with Inter Milan until the end of the current season. The most surprising aspect of this agreement is Al-Hilal's commitment to covering the full salary of João Cancelo throughout his loan spell with the Italian club, which facilitated Inter Milan's completion of the transfer without incurring additional financial burdens on their payroll.
Back to Serie A and Inzaghi's tactics
This deal is particularly significant given that João Cancelo is no stranger to Serie A or even Inter Milan itself. The Portuguese star previously wore the Nerazzurri jersey during the 2017-2018 season, delivering impressive performances before his subsequent move to Juventus and then Manchester City. His return is a tremendous boost for Simone Inzaghi's squad, whose 3-5-2 formation relies heavily on attacking full-backs capable of making a difference – a quality Cancelo excels at, whether playing on the right or left flank.
Al-Hilal's current situation and continued victories
Domestically, this decision comes at a time when Al-Hilal is enjoying a period of technical stability and positive results. The Blue team secured a valuable and well-deserved victory in their last match against Al-Kholoud, with a score of three goals to one, in a game held at Al-Hazm Club Stadium in Buraidah. This win confirms the team's readiness to compete for all titles, even with any changes that may occur to the squad during the winter transfer window.
Sports fans are eagerly awaiting the official announcement and the signing of contracts, to see how the departure of a name as big as Cancelo will affect Al-Hilal's lineup, and how Inter Milan will benefit from his services in their struggle for the Italian league title and European competitions.
