Hansi Flick continued his strict approach toward Alejandro Balde by unexpectedly excluding the Spanish fullback from Barcelona’s squad to face Elche at the start of their La Liga title defense campaign.
Barcelona did not announce that Balde was suffering from an injury or state a direct technical reason for his absence, making the decision appear to be another message from the manager to the player, especially as João Cancelo was included in the squad despite participating in only two training sessions since returning to the club.
The exclusion came hours after Flick demanded that Balde prove he deserves to play, stating: “He possesses tremendous quality, but it is important to know if the player is convinced about competing in his position… I need everyone to be 100% committed.”
The coach’s statements left the fullback’s future open until the end of the transfer window, particularly after Balde learned that Cancelo is ahead of him in the left-back hierarchy, while Manchester United has already inquired about the terms to sign him.
While sources close to Balde confirmed his desire to stay and compete, other reports citing Jigantes stated that the player has decided to search for a new club and that his agent, Jorge Mendes, has begun working on finding him a destination, likely in the English Premier League.
Barcelona would welcome selling the 22-year-old if an offer close to €50 million arrives—a fee that could grant the club financial leeway to move for a left-footed center-back and reorganize its defensive line.
Marc Casadó and Hector Fort also missed the trip to Elche after Flick allowed them to remain in Barcelona to resolve their futures; Fort is closing in on a move to Borussia Dortmund, while Casadó is searching for a new destination following his drop in the midfield hierarchy after the arrival of Rodri.
