Barcelona duo Balde and Casado at crossroads before transfer deadline

Jorge Mendes has held separate meetings with Alejandro Balde and Marc Casado as Barcelona consider the futures of two La Masia graduates who appear to have fallen outside Hansi Flick’s plans.

The Portuguese agent was in Barcelona on Friday to complete Joao Cancelo’s move, with the defender set to sign a contract running until 2029 and be formally presented by the club. Mendes then spent an hour with sporting director Deco during the afternoon before beginning discussions over the situations of two other players he represents.

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Mendes met Balde and Casado separately in an effort to establish their positions before the transfer window closes.

Balde’s circumstances are considered the more complicated of the two. The 22-year-old left-back faces increased competition following Cancelo’s return. Cancelo finished last season as the coach’s first-choice right-back and has moved ahead of Balde in Flick’s pecking order, leaving the academy graduate’s playing prospects uncertain.

Balde joined Barcelona at the age of eight and has consistently made clear that remaining at Camp Nou is his “absolute priority”. However, he also recognises that regular first-team football is particularly important at this stage of his career.

Mendes is understood to have presented serious interest from several leading European clubs, with Manchester United among the teams most keen to sign the player. Balde, who is under contract with Barcelona until 2028, must now decide whether to stay and fight for his place or consider a move that could offer him more consistent football.

Casado’s position is described as the more pressing issue. The 22-year-old midfielder, who joined Barcelona from CF Damm at the age of 13, is now widely regarded as being completely outside Flick’s plans for the season.

Despite attractive proposals from Saudi Arabian clubs Al Hilal and Al Ahli, Casado has rejected the possibility of moving to the Saudi Pro League. On the advice of his family, he has decided that he wants to remain in Europe.

AC Milan, Nottingham Forest and Benfica are competing for his signature. Barcelona accept they are unlikely to receive the €40m that Saudi clubs could have offered, but the Catalan club still expects a substantial fee for a player who has made 75 appearances for the first team and completed a full international match.

Barcelona’s minimum asking price is understood to be €30m. That stance follows the sale of Tommy Marques to Sporting Braga for €11m, with a further €1m available in add-ons, and reflects the club’s valuation of Casado despite his reduced role under Flick.

With the deadline approaching, Mendes’ meetings underline the importance of the decisions facing both players. Balde must weigh his desire to remain at Barcelona against the prospect of limited opportunities, while Casado appears to be choosing between competing European destinations after ruling out a move to Saudi Arabia.