Back to the Soccer Newsfeed

The world’s best right-back? Juventus’ top summer transfer was Cancelo - not Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is living up to his billing as the game's best player but his fellow Portuguese's progress has been even more impressive

Letting Dani Alves leave for Juventus in 2016 was one of the biggest mistakes Barcelona have ever made. Not replacing him with Joao Cancelo, though, was an even worse decision.

The Portuguese full-back was just 22 at the time but it was obvious after his first season in Spain with Valencia that he had the pace and skills to flourish in a side as adventurous as the Blaugrana's.

Indeed, Cesare Prandelli spent just three months in charge of Los Che at the tail end of 2016 and that was more than enough time for him to realise that Cancelo was a special player.