Unbenchable! Cancelo's stunning scoring streak forces Flick into a Barcelona rethink
João Cancelo was supposed to be a rotation piece in Hansi Flick's Barcelona. Instead, the Portuguese full-back is playing the football of his life and making the German coach's lineup decisions look increasingly uncomfortable.
Details: According to journalist Toriblanco, quoted by Barça Universal, Cancelo is making it impossible for Flick to treat him as just another rotation option. The 32-year-old has scored against Racing Santander, Denmark and Norway within days, offering a constant threat going forward and the ability to hurt teams from either flank.
The surge began in mid-September, when Cancelo opened the scoring in Barcelona's 7-2 rout of Racing Santander at Camp Nou with a ferocious strike from the edge of the area that flew in off the crossbar at a recorded speed of 128.5 km/h, a goal he himself called the best of his career. That strike was voted La Liga's Goal of the Month for September, announced by the club on October 1. The international break only amplified the noise: Cancelo found the net in Portugal's 4-2 win over Denmark, then dragged his country level against Norway at the Estádio do Dragão on October 4, lashing home on 38 minutes after a long throw from Nuno Mendes bounced invitingly into his path. It is a remarkable turnaround for a player who only returned to Catalonia on loan in January and whose permanent move from Al Hilal was sealed on August 20 with a contract running until June 2029. The context makes the debate even spicier: Flick has been rotating his full-backs, yet every time Cancelo starts he seems to score, blurring the line between squad player and starter.
It's worth noting that Barcelona paid nothing close to a premium for this form: Transfermarkt valued Cancelo at just €8 million when the permanent deal was completed. Flick will soon have to show his hand, with La Liga resuming on October 10 and a trip to Getafe on the calendar.
Reminder: 7-0 and a poker from Pina! Barcelona humiliate Real Madrid in El Clásico.
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
