Alejandro Balde’s Barcelona future in doubt after another omission under Hansi Flick

Alejandro Balde’s position at Barcelona has come under renewed scrutiny after he remained an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw with Getafe, further highlighting how difficult it has become for him to secure regular playing time under Hansi Flick.

The match represented a possible opportunity for Balde to improve his situation, with Flick selecting almost every available player who had not joined their national teams during the international break.

Joan Garcia, Eric – who had returned from Wembley without playing – Gerard Martin, Gavi and Gabriel Jesus all started. Despite having joined the Spain Under-21 squad, academy graduate Chavi Espart was also named in the starting XI.

Balde, however, did not make it on to the pitch for a single minute.

His latest omission comes after an unsettled summer in which Flick warned him that his standing within the squad had changed and that he could struggle to receive playing time. The German manager even left him out of the squad for the match against Elche, giving the defender an opportunity to reconsider his position.

Balde ultimately chose to remain at Barcelona, seemingly hoping circumstances would improve. They have not done so. His only appearance was a 12-minute cameo in a match against Racing that had already been decided.

The 21-year-old is now well behind both Chavi Espart and Joao Cancelo in the competition to play at left-back, leaving his Barcelona future increasingly uncertain as the winter transfer window approaches.

Balde will have to decide what comes next, particularly after failing to settle the matter with his agent, Jorge Mendes, during the summer.

A departure would represent a significant change for a player who produced impressive numbers during earlier periods of his Barcelona career. Under Xavi, he created seven goals during the 2022-2023 season, while under Flick he registered 10 assists in the 2024-2025 campaign.

Despite those contributions, Balde’s prospects appear to have worsened since Flick took charge. His position could become even more difficult if the German remains in the role, especially as Balde recorded seven fewer assists last season than in the campaign before it.

For now, his lack of involvement against Getafe is the latest indication that he is no longer a regular part of Flick’s plans, with Barcelona’s next decision likely to come when the transfer window reopens.