Joao Cancelo has signed a 5-year contract with Juventus
“Turin, 27 June 2018 – Juventus Football Club S.p.A. announces that the agreement with Valencia Club de Futbol SAD for the definitive acquisition of the registration rights of the player João Pedro Cavaco Cancelo has been finalized for a consideration of €40.4 million payable in three financial years.
This acquisition will generate economic and financial effects starting from 2018/2019 sportive season.
Juventus and the player have signed a 5-year contract of employment until 30 June 2023.”
This is Juventus’ official statement following the singing of Portuguese right back Joao Cancelo.
Who is Joao Cancelo?
Cancelo is a product of Benfica’s renowned youth academy. He joined the club as a 14-year-old, but played only one game for the senior team before the club decided to loan him to Valencia. He impressed Los Che, who bought him for a fee of €15 million. Faced with stiff competition at the position, Cancelo was in and out of the starting lineup for three years, until eventually being loaned out to Inter for the duration of last season. Juventus must have liked what they saw from the young right back/wing back, because the fee the team from Turin agreed to pay is a hefty one.
Where will Joao Cancelo fit for Juventus?
Massimiliano Allegri uses a tactical scheme with two wing backs. Alex Sandro fits marvellously on the left side and the hope is that Cancelo will fit as well on the right one. There’s a reason why Stephan Lichtsteiner wasn’t offered a contract extension. At 34, he’s well past his prime. He does not have the speed or stamina to survive 90 minutes running up and down the field. Those qualities are essential for a modern wing back. For a couple of years, Allegri improvized with Juan Cuadrado at the position when Lichtsteiner wasn’t available. Joao Cancelo should provide stability. Even though he doesn’t rank among the top right backs in Europe, he should fit Juventus’ system perfectly. That’s probably the reason why they agreed to pay the price (€40.4 million).
Joao Cancelo style of play
Joao Cancelo thrives in rapid transitions. He’s equally apt defensively and offensively, loves to roam forward and has the dribbling skills of a forward. There were times when he even took corner kicks for Valencia. Cancelo has some work to do defensively, but will have Alex Sandro to show him all the tricks of the trade.
Based on Juventus’ history, we have no reason to doubt any of their dealings on the transfer market. Joao Cancelo is a player entering his best footballing years. Maybe this is the move he needs in order to earn the Portugal national team call-up which he didn’t get for Russia 2018.
Joao Cancelo is already Juventus 5th signing of the summer following Douglas Costa, Emre Can, Mattia Perin and Andrea Favilli.
