Alejandro Balde considers January Barcelona exit as Manchester United monitor situation

Alejandro Balde is open to leaving Barcelona in January after falling down the pecking order under manager Hansi Flick.

The 23-year-old left-back believes he may need to move away from the club to secure regular first-team football, according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo.

Balde had hoped injuries in Barcelona’s defence would lead to a bigger role. He featured against Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Alaves, but did not start any of those matches.

Joao Cancelo and Xavi Espart are currently ahead of him in the contest for the left-back position. Mundo Deportivo reports that Balde has also failed to make enough of the opportunities he has been given to convince the coaching staff.

The Barcelona staff believe Balde sometimes loses concentration and does not always choose the right moment to move forward or press opponents.

Flick made his position clear before the match against Alaves, saying: “Balde does not currently have the confidence he needs in his way of playing, and he does not have enough conviction. Defenders are very important.”

Those comments increased Balde’s frustration, particularly because he had been hoping to make his first start of the season.

The report says Balde is unhappy about the lack of clarity surrounding his position. He had expected Flick to speak to him directly about his role, as the manager did with Marc Casado and Hector Fort before the transfer window closed. Flick told both players it would be difficult for them to receive regular minutes.

Balde, however, has not received a similar explanation from the manager, with the information available to him coming through Flick’s press conferences.

Cancelo’s arrival at Barcelona was not initially straightforward for Balde, but the Portugal full-back has since become one of his strongest supporters in the dressing room. He offers Balde advice, encourages him to continue working and has defended him in front of Flick on some occasions.

Another influential player within the squad also objected when Flick changed Balde’s position during a training match. The player believed Balde needed to work in his usual role to give himself the best chance of showing his ability.

Manchester City and Manchester United asked about Balde’s situation last summer, while Bayern Munich also expressed an interest before signing Nathaniel Brown.

The Spanish full-back continues to attract attention in the Premier League, with Manchester United among the clubs who could look to sign him. Balde is understood to be receptive to the prospect of playing in England.

If his current situation does not improve, Balde will be prepared to consider offers in January. He does not want to repeat the experience of former team-mate Ansu Fati, who spent several seasons without establishing consistent playing time.

A permanent departure from Barcelona could therefore be possible, particularly because Premier League clubs have the financial capacity to complete a transfer of that nature.