Fabio Balde trains partly with HSV

Fabio Balde is still not fully back in Hamburger SV training after falling ill and then picking up knee discomfort.

Balde is a product of the youth academies of ESV Einigkeit, FC Suderelbe, and SC Vorwarts-Wacker 04, before joining Hamburger SVs youth academy in 2020.

In 2023 he was named captain of their U19 team, before promoting to their reserves in the Regionalliga.

The 21-year-old winger was only able to do an individual session when HSV began their training camp in Herzogenaurach.

Balde did start the day with the rest of the squad during the warm-up, but he then continued separately with fitness coach Jan Hasenkamp. That cautious approach comes after he already missed HSV’s recent friendly against Everton because of an infection. The new setback means the club is managing his workload carefully, with a tape visible around his right leg during the solo work.

For HSV, the priority is to avoid rushing him back too soon, especially at the start of a demanding pre-season schedule. Balde remains a useful attacking option, so the staff will want him available once the pain settles and he can rejoin full training without restrictions.

His current progress suggests the club is taking the right approach, even if it means a slower build-up than planned.