João Cancelo does not hide his burning dream of returning to Benfica, the club that raised him and that has always been at the center of his heart. In exclusive statements to Canal 11, the Portuguese right-back reaffirmed his deep emotional connection to the Eagles, but made it clear that a return to the Estádio da Luz will not be made at any cost — and certainly not “for free.”
Trained at Benfica, João Cancelo is aware of the financial challenges that a return would entail. “I would love to play for Benfica, that’s obvious, but I don’t know if it will be possible anytime soon. Fortunately, I have reached a salary level that is difficult for Benfica to match. Playing for Benfica is like playing for Barça, it’s for love. I won’t play for free, but I have to come at a time when I don’t want to earn a lot of money,” he revealed, emphasizing that his passion for the club is above money, but that there are limits.
The connection to Benfica is even more poignant due to family ties. “Having only two in the Benfica first team is hard for me. Especially on my mother’s side, who was a Benfica fan and would have dreamed of me playing at the Estádio da Luz. It’s my mother’s club, my brother’s, all my friends,” he confessed, emotionally. However, Cancelo is firm: “I don’t want to go to Benfica feeling that I’m not at my best. Benfica is a demanding club, one of the biggest in the world, and if I feel that I can’t measure up, it’s better not to go.”
Currently loaned from Al Hilal to Barcelona, Cancelo maintains a pragmatic stance on the future, without rigid plans. “I have one more year on my contract; if I have to play in Arabia, I will, if I have to play in Europe, I will. It will depend on Al Hilal,” he stated, leaving all possibilities open.
The player did not fail to pay tribute to his roots at Barreirense, the club where he took his first steps. “I watched Barcelona-Real Madrid in the Super Cup final on my phone because I went to see Barreirense-Olímpico Montijo at the stadium. I went to see a game at the stadium, hooded.” He also lamented the current situation of the club: “There used to be the Estádio D. Manuel de Mello, which they tore down, much to my regret. If I had the money I have today back then, I wouldn’t have allowed it. No way. Now they have a synthetic pitch. Barreirense is also not doing well financially. The Academy has good conditions, but the pitch for the seniors could be better. It pains me to see the club like this.” João Cancelo also promised to help: “I will still lend a hand there. Even if it’s just to sell tickets.”
In terms of sports, Cancelo did not hold back in praising his colleagues from the Portuguese national team. “João Félix is the most talented player in the National Team,” he highlighted, although with a caveat: “He lacks body language. Sometimes he seems disconnected from the game.” Regarding Bernardo Silva, the full-back was playful: “He’s a clown, he’s a joker,” he admitted, confessing that he would like to play alongside the midfielder: “I wish he would go to Barcelona or Benfica.”
When it comes to the Portuguese league, Cancelo has no doubts: “Benfica. I always have hope.” And about a possible reunion with José Mourinho at the helm of the Luz team, he was direct: “I would like to be coached by him. He’s a reference.”
But Cancelo’s life is not just about football. The Portuguese international opened his heart and spoke about the devastating impact of his mother’s death, a moment that changed his life forever. “You get through it, but there’s always an emptiness. My mother was healthy, and it was a shock. In one day, in one second, everything collapsed. It forced me to be the leader of the family, which I wasn’t prepared to be,” he revealed with emotion. The loss left deep marks: “My father is a pillar in my life; he got me playing football from a young age, but a mother’s love cannot be replaced. I missed my mother a lot, I went through complicated situations, I was on complicated paths, but my life got back on track.”
João Cancelo acknowledges that football has been his lifeline, the “vitamin” that kept him standing during the toughest times. “I was one of the promises from Benfica’s academy, I’ve seen myself…,” he began to recount, in a reflection that showcases the resilience and strength of one of the best full-backs in the world.
This is a more human, more emotional João Cancelo, and above all, passionate about Benfica. A return to the Luz? The desire is there, but only when the conditions are right. Until then, the world of football will continue to closely follow every step of this star who has never forgotten where he came from.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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