Alejandro Balde sends clear message over Barcelona future: ‘This is my home’ | OneFootball

Barcelona defensive star Alejandro Balde has a huge season ahead of him, needing to take his game a step forward and establish himself as the left-back Hansi Flick wants.

Balde has been in the first-team picture for a good few years now, but his game has not developed as one would have expected.

Last season, Joao Cancelo arrived on loan in January and slowly displaced the Spaniard from the starting berth, offering more quality from left-back.

This sparked speculation over Balde’s future at the club, but the Spaniard has now reaffirmed his commitment to the Catalan club.

Speaking in an interview with SPORT during Barcelona’s pre-season camp in England, the 22-year-old discussed his fitness, competition for places, the club’s ambitions and his admiration for teammate Lamine Yamal.

Balde dismisses exit talk

After being linked with a move away from Camp Nou in recent months, Balde made his intentions crystal clear.

“People always say a lot of things, but Barcelona is my home,” Balde said.

“I’ve been at this club for 16 years, my whole life. I want to succeed here, and my mind is here.”

Not going anywhere. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

The left-back also looked beyond his current contract, which runs until 2028.

“I’m from Barcelona, it’s my home. All I’m thinking about is staying here for many more years. I’m not thinking about leaving,” he continued.

He ended his answer with perhaps his strongest statement yet.

“I’m a Barcelona fan, I’m from Barcelona. I won’t be better anywhere else.”

Ready to fight for his place

Balde also confirmed he is close to returning after a minor back issue.

“I’m fine. It was nothing serious,” he said.

“I stopped for two or three days as a precaution because of some previous back problems, but I’m good now. Tomorrow I’ll rejoin the group.”

He added that reports claiming he was suffering from pubalgia were incorrect.

“There were some reports saying I had pubalgia, but that’s not true. I’m fine.”

Looking ahead to the season, Balde acknowledged he must regain the confidence that made him one of Barcelona’s undisputed starters.

“I have to recover my confidence,” he explained.

“If I’m 100 percent physically and I have confidence, I think I can be very good in my position.”

Looking forward to the upcoming season. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

He also revealed that he does not mind competition from Cancelo, should the club sign him.

“He’s a very good player with excellent attacking qualities. He’s older than me and has more experience, so I use him as an example,” he said.

Big ambitions for club and country

On Barcelona’s objectives, Balde admitted the Champions League is the main target, while warning against becoming consumed by it.

“It’s obvious. It’s the biggest title there is, and we all want to win it,” he said.

“It’s our objective, but we can’t become obsessed with it.”

He also backed Barcelona to compete with a strengthened Real Madrid.

“Real Madrid are one of the best teams in the world, but we have to focus on ourselves,” Balde said.

“We’re not afraid of Madrid. It’s eleven against eleven. If we do things well, we can achieve great things.”

Praise for Lamine

Balde reserved special praise for his close friend, Lamine Yamal.

“What he’s done at 19 is incredible, something we’ve rarely seen in football,” Balde said.

“If he wants to and sets his mind to it, he can become one of the best players in history.”

Balde is very close to Lamine off the pitch, and his words about the Spanish teenager show how much hope everyone has for him.

The Spaniard’s words also showcase what his other teammates are thinking: the Champions League.

The players are keen on bringing back the trophy that has eluded the Catalan club for more than a decade now.

Hansi Flick is entering his third season as Barça manager, and he will want players like Balde to take that step forward to help achieve the dream.

It remains to be seen whether Cancelo’s potential arrival pushes the Spaniard down the pecking order or whether the duo fight it out for a starting berth through the course of the season.