Balde slips at Barcelona: Man Utd keep tabs on his situation | OneFootball

Alejandro Balde is going through one of the most difficult moments of his time at Barcelona. The left-back, who for several seasons was the undisputed starter, has barely featured at the start of the campaign, and his situation could lead him to rethink his future.

After eight official matches, Balde has played only 12 minutes, coming in the final stretch of the 7-2 win over Racing. A situation that contrasts sharply with the role he once had in the team and that could become a problem if it continues over the coming months.

Flick asks him to compete, but for now he is behind

Hansi Flick noticed as early as last season that the player's performances had stalled, both in matches and in training.

The German coach’s intention has been clear: Balde must fight for his place and raise his level again. However, so far the competition has not worked in his favor.

The full-back has fallen behind other options, and Flick has mainly relied on Xavi Espart and Cancelo on the left flank.

For a player who went to the 2022 World Cup and became a regular in Spain squads, the change in circumstances is significant.

Mendes sends a message about his future

Balde’s situation had already raised questions during the last transfer window. His agent, Jorge Mendes, was asked about the player’s future after a dinner with Joan Laporta and gave a brief message.

“Balde will be fine in the future, don’t worry.”

The remark came at a time when the player had still not played any minutes this season and left the door open to different interpretations.

The full-back, who is under contract until 2028, resisted considering a move during the summer, despite interest from Premier League clubs.

Manchester United keeping a close eye

One of the teams that has been closely monitoring the situation is Manchester United. The English side had already shown interest in the full-back and could re-enter the picture if Balde continues to struggle for playing time.

The winter transfer window could be especially important in that regard. If his sporting situation does not change, the player could begin to consider alternatives to regain the continuity he has lost at Barcelona.

For now, the Blaugrana club has not made a decision about his future, and Flick still trusts that the competition can spark a positive reaction.

A problem Barcelona will have to watch

Balde is not the only player whose situation is raising questions within the squad. Barcelona have also had to deal with the cases of Ter Stegen, on loan at Ajax; Araujo, currently at Liverpool; Marc Casadó, at Deportivo; and Roony Bardghji, whose injury halted a possible departure.

The last transfer window also did not allow Barça to generate all the revenue it had hoped for through transfers, so any future deal will also have to be assessed from an economic point of view.

In Balde’s case, the key will be the coming months. If he regains prominence, the picture could change completely. If he remains sidelined on the bench, interest from Manchester United and other options could begin to gather strength.

The full-back’s future is still at Barcelona, but his situation is already one of the most closely watched ahead of the next transfer window.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.