Alejandro Balde has made the decision to leave Barcelona during the remaining days of the summer transfer window, after emerging from recent conversations with club officials under the impression that securing his desired role under Hansi Flick will be difficult.
Journalist Gerard Romero revealed that the Spanish full-back informed his agent, Jorge Mendes, of his wish to search for a new club. The Portuguese agent has already begun working to find a suitable destination before the transfer window closes on September 1.
The decision coincides with public comments in which Flick offered no clear guarantees to the player. When asked if he was relying on Balde, the German coach said: “It’s a tough question. Balde is an important player, but for me, I need to see conviction and a player’s desire to compete for his position.”
“I monitor every player daily, observing how they train and the effort they put in. We need everyone to be 100% committed,” the German manager added—a message interpreted as a direct doubt regarding Balde’s motivation to fight for his place, especially following the return of João Cancelo, whom Flick views as his primary choice at left-back.
The 22-year-old’s decision could put Manchester United back into the picture, as the English club recently contacted Mendes to inquire about the player’s situation and potential deal terms, though they have yet to submit an official proposal to Barcelona.
Manchester City had previously monitored Balde’s situation and is expected to track new developments, while Chelsea appears to be a logical candidate following Marc Cucurella’s departure to Real Madrid and their subsequent need for a left-back. The defender has also been linked with Aston Villa and Inter Milan in past transfer windows.
Balde’s contract with Barcelona runs until June 2028, granting the club strong leverage in negotiations despite his transfer request. Current estimates suggest the Catalan board could approve a sale for around €50 million, a figure aligned with his current market valuation.
Balde joined Barcelona’s La Masia academy in 2011 at eight years old from Espanyol’s youth setup, making his first-team debut against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League in September 2021 before gradually succeeding Jordi Alba on the left flank.
The Spanish full-back has made 168 appearances for the first team, scoring 3 goals and providing 21 assists, while lifting 7 trophies in a Barcelona shirt: 3 La Liga titles, 3 Spanish Super Cups, and 1 Copa del Rey.
