Long-time Barcelona injury absentee rejoins group training | OneFootball

La Liga giants Barcelona have on Tuesday been afforded some altogether positive news on the personnel front.

This comes amid confirmation that a key member of the club’s defensive ranks has linked back up with the rest of his teammates in pre-season training.

The player in question? Alejandro Balde.

Defender Balde, for his part, has not taken to the pitch since all the way back in January.

As much comes owing to a hamstring injury suffered during a Copa del Rey meeting with Athletic Club, which saw the 20-year-old subsequently forced under the knife.

Expected to act as the first-choice left-back in new manager Hansi Flick’s squad over the season ahead, all of a Barcelona persuasion will therefore no doubt be overjoyed to hear of Balde taking a significant step forward in his recovery.

The Spanish international last week marked his return to the grass at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.

On Tuesday, though, Balde was at last granted permission to play his part in full contact group training drills.

As much has been confirmed by Relevo’s Alex Pintanel, amongst a number of other sources across the Spanish media.

Conor Laird | GSFN