Alejandro Balde under scrutiny as Barcelona weigh left-back reinforcement with €30m Spanish defender still on radar – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona and Hansi Flick will be hoping that the current international break serves as a much-needed reset after a difficult start to the 2025/26 season.

The German coach is expected to recover several key players soon, with Joan Garcia and Raphinha both nearing a return. Flick should have the pair available for the La Liga clash against Athletic Club on 22 November, a boost as he looks to stabilise performances.

But while the return of injured players will help in the short term, Barcelona are already analysing deeper structural issues ahead of the next transfer windows. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan club continues to debate whether reinforcements are needed in the full-back positions, especially on the left, where problems have been most evident.

Alejandro Balde remains the undisputed starter and, at 22, is still seen as a long-term piece of the project. However, despite his physical and technical strengths, he has not been as influential as expected this season and has been exposed on several occasions.

Behind him, the alternatives have struggled to convince: Gerard Martin, despite some commendable outings last year, is viewed as short of the excellence Barça require, while 18-year-old Jofre Torrents is still deemed too raw to shoulder first-team responsibility.

Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images

Given this context, as per the MD’s report, Barça are once again monitoring the market. Last summer, sporting director Deco explored the possibility of bringing back Alejandro Grimaldo, but financial constraints and La Liga fair play rules made any move impossible.

Grimaldo, now 30 and thriving at Bayer Leverkusen, remains a target. His contract situation, with 18 months remaining and a clause allowing him to join a Spanish club for €15–20 million, makes him an appealing and realistic option. The €30 million-rated former La Masia full-back has a strong desire to return to La Liga and is well aware of Barcelona’s admiration.

More ambitious names, such as Nuno Mendes or Josko Gvardiol, are appreciated internally but considered unattainable due to long-term contracts and the financial power of PSG and Manchester City.

On the right side, the club feels more secure. Jules Kounde has adapted well to the role despite being a natural centre-back, while Eric Garcia has impressed whenever deployed there and is expected to earn a contract renewal. For this reason, right-back is not viewed as an urgent priority, unless a signing becomes available who clearly improves the current options.

Denzel Dumfries is one such profile admired by the club. The Dutchman, whose dynamism and attacking impact were felt firsthand by Barça last season, remains on the radar. His Inter contract includes a €25 million release clause, although that too was out of reach under last summer’s financial situation.

Joao Cancelo also continues to feature in discussions. Despite unaffordable wages at Al-Hilal, the 31-year-old has repeatedly expressed his wish to return to Europe and is a long-time admirer of Barcelona. His ability to play on both flanks is valued, though there are internal doubts about whether his extremely attack-minded style aligns with Flick’s defensive demands.

Another name frequently linked is Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz. The Colombian international has openly expressed his dream of wearing the Blaugrana shirt and brings an aggressive, attack-minded profile.

Still, given the club’s financial restraints, any January moves appear unlikely. Flick is expected to navigate the rest of the campaign with the squad at his disposal, with full-back reinforcements set to be revisited ahead of next summer, when Barcelona hope to have more flexibility.