Alejandro Balde determined to stay at Barcelona despite limited role under Hansi Flick

Alejandro Balde is determined to remain at Barcelona despite making just one brief appearance this season and falling out of favour with manager Hansi Flick.

The 22-year-old left-back has played only 12 minutes so far, coming on as a substitute against Racing at Camp Nou in La Liga. He was not included in the squad for the opening game against Elche, then missed Barcelona’s next six league matches as well as their Champions League fixture against Feyenoord.

Barcelona and Flick were prepared to let Balde leave during the summer after deciding he was unlikely to be the team’s first-choice option at left-back. However, the player rejected the prospect of moving on and chose to continue with the Catalan club, where he is under contract until June 2028.

Balde believes the season still has plenty of time to develop and that the congested fixture schedule will create opportunities for him to demonstrate his ability. He remains convinced that greater playing time can be earned and has therefore maintained his decision to stay at Barcelona for the remainder of the campaign.

Flick believes Balde is capable of producing a higher level and making a greater contribution, but is currently favouring Xavi Espart and Joao Cancelo in the competition for the left-back position. The Barcelona manager considers both players to be in better physical condition at present.

Although Balde has no intention of leaving, Barcelona would be willing to consider a transfer if he changes his position. The club has several alternatives in the left-back position and values the player at about 60m euros.

A sale could provide Barcelona with funds to improve its financial position and strengthen the squad during the January transfer window. The club needs to sell players before it can make a significant move in the winter market, while Balde’s departure would also reduce the wage bill.

Barcelona viewed a summer transfer for Balde as a suitable deal, but negotiations did not progress because the player turned down the approaches he received. Manchester United, Manchester City, Benfica and Aston Villa were among the clubs interested in him.

The club’s management does not believe Balde’s departure would leave a significant gap in the squad because of the alternatives available in his position. His future could therefore become one of the options considered in January if his current situation remains unchanged, although for now the defender is committed to fighting for his place at Barcelona.