AFPExplained: Why Barcelona DELETED all traces of Joao Cancelo transfer just minutes after official announcement
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Getty Images SportAdministrative delay forces hasty retreat
According to Mundo Deportivo, the decision to pull the announcement was made because the club is still waiting to exchange the final pieces of documentation with Al-Hilal. While the agreement is in place and the player is physically present in Barcelona, the formal bureaucratic process involving the International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and the final sign-off from the Saudi Pro League side had not been fully completed when the publish button was hit.
Sources from within the Catalan club have moved quickly to quell fears, assuring that the operation is sealed and that it is "only a matter of time" before the paperwork arrives to formalise the transfer. The media team, perhaps eager to share the good news with a fanbase desperate for reinforcements, appears to have acted slightly ahead of the legal department.
The strict protocols regarding international transfers require that all documentation be perfectly aligned between the two associations - the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) - before a player can be officially registered. Until that final electronic handshake occurs in the Transfer Matching System (TMS), the player is technically not yet a Barcelona employee again, prompting the club to retract the announcement to ensure full compliance with regulations.
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Getty Images SportA temporary hiccup in a done deal
While the "delete" button has caused a temporary stir, the signing is for all intents and purposes complete. Cancelo’s presence in the offices, the photographs with the president, and the signed contracts that are currently sitting on a desk in Barcelona are proof that his return is imminent.
The initial announcement, though premature, revealed that the deal is a straight loan until the end of the season. Cancelo returns to a familiar environment where he previously played 42 matches, scoring four goals and providing five assists. His adaptation period is expected to be non-existent, which is vital for a mid-season acquisition.
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