Barcelona homegrown star has four months to change Hansi Flick’s plans for his future | OneFootball

Alejandro Balde’s Barcelona future has been pushed into a decisive period. 

During the summer, the club did not manage to find him a new destination, leaving the 22-year-old with an opportunity that could ultimately determine whether he remains part of Hansi Flick’s plans beyond January.

According to SPORT, the coming months therefore will be crucial for Balde as he attempts to convince the Barcelona coach that he can still become an important option at left-back.

That opportunity comes with a clear complication, as Flick has already made it known that he expected more from the academy graduate.

This means Balde is not only fighting for minutes, but he is also trying to change the perception of his reliability within the coaching staff.

Next four months are crucial for Balde

Barcelona had been open to moving Balde on during the summer, with Manchester United identified as a possible destination. 

Alejandro Balde needs to prove his worth. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The transfer never materialised, however, and the player ultimately stayed at Camp Nou.

Now, the homegrown talent wants to make the most of the opportunity that remains.

Balde knows what Flick expects from him and will have to demonstrate during training that he can provide the level Barcelona require. 

However, with Xavi Espart and Joao Cancelo currently ahead of him in the pecking order, establishing himself will not be easy.

At the same time, Barcelona have a decision to make of their own. 

Balde remains a valuable cash cow, with his transfer value estimated at €30m-€40m. 

Balde has until January to change Hansi Flick’s perception. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

If his situation does not improve and he leaves in January, the club could accelerate their search for a specialist left-back, and that is where Jorge Salinas could come back in the conversation.

Salinas could become more expensive if Balde leaves

Barcelona already regard Salinas as one of the leading options should they need to reinforce the position. 

But Racing Santander’s decision to increase the young defender’s release clause could complicate any potential move and push the cost higher.

For now, the Blaugrana have time to evaluate the situation before January. There is no need to make an immediate decision, and that is probably the best outcome for all sides.

Balde still has age, physical power and significant market value on his side, and more importantly, he controls the one factor Barcelona need to see before deciding whether to move on: his performances.