Saudi doctor Rakan Al-Wabel, a specialist in sports injuries, has revealed the reason behind Portuguese player João Cancelo’s dip in form and his recurring injuries during his time with Al-Hilal, following his current impressive performances for Barcelona.
Cancelo had left Al-Hilal on loan during the last winter transfer window, before going on to make a huge impact at Barcelona, with the Catalan club expressing their desire to sign him on a permanent basis.
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Regarding injuries and a dip in form, Rakan Al-Wabel said in comments on the programme “Al-Muntasif”: “There are many reasons for Cancelo’s repeated injuries with Al-Hilal, including his playing time, a change of position, and his basic physical fitness.”
He added: “All these factors are well known, but the hidden issue lies in the psychological aspect; the Portuguese star was not feeling comfortable at Al-Hilal due to the coach’s treatment of him and other matters.”
He concluded: “Cancelo is a top-class player and ranks among the best full-backs in the world, but what happened to him was purely psychological, as evidenced by his current form with Barcelona, although there are several differences between the two experiences.”