Madrid, Aug. 17 -- Portuguese international defender Joao Cancelo is on the verge of returning to FC Barcelona on a permanent deal, the player confirmed.

The 32-year-old spent a successful six-month spell on loan at Barcelona from Al-Hilal last season, but had to return to the Saudi Arabian club at the end of Barcelona's title-winning campaign.

He and Al-Hilal reached an agreement to end their relationship over the weekend and Cancelo flew into Barcelona on Monday.

The defender posted an image of himself inside the plane with the message "coming back home," and spoke briefly to the press on his arrival at the airport, according to Xinhua.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from United News of India....