João Cancelo has seemingly responded to the latest reports surrounding his future, using social media to cast doubt on claims that Al-Hilal are preparing to punish him.
Portuguese outlet Record reported that Al-Hilal were considering imposing a fine on the Portugal international after he failed to report for the club's pre-season training camp, while negotiations over his permanent return to Barcelona continue.
However, Cancelo quickly caught fans' attention by reposting Record's report on his Instagram story, adding only two emojis:
🤷♂️🤥
The "lying face" emoji was widely interpreted as a direct denial of the report, suggesting that Cancelo believes the claims are false or misleading.
The Portuguese defender has not issued an official statement, but his reaction appears to be his clearest response yet to the speculation surrounding his absence from Al-Hilal's training camp.
Cancelo is currently in Portugal, training individually while waiting for Barcelona and Al-Hilal to finalize negotiations over a permanent transfer. The 32-year-old has made no secret of his desire to continue at Barça, with talks between the two clubs progressing in recent days.
Although Record claimed disciplinary action was being considered, Cancelo's own social media activity suggests he does not agree with that version of events.
Whether the emojis were aimed specifically at the reported fine or the wider narrative surrounding his absence remains open to interpretation. What is certain is that the defender has added another twist to one of Barcelona's biggest transfer stories of the summer.
📰 Sources: Cancelo's Instagram story
DiarioSport
Record