Alejandro Balde Leaves Barcelona as Mendes Seeks New Club
Alejandro Balde’s Barcelona chapter is heading for an abrupt twist. According to Jijantes FC, the 22-year-old left-back has decided to leave the club this summer, with Jorge Mendes already at work to engineer an exit in the final days of the transfer window.
The super-agent has been in Barcelona this week, and his visit was never going to be a social call. Now it has a clear purpose: find a new destination for one of La Masia’s brightest recent graduates.
From future starter to expendable
Balde’s situation has been simmering for months. He lost his starting spot in the second half of last season to Joao Cancelo, and Barcelona’s decision to bring the Portuguese full-back back on a permanent deal this summer only deepened the doubts around the Spaniard’s role.
All along, Balde publicly held the same line: he wanted to stay, to fight, to prove he could be Barça’s left-back for the next decade. But the internal conversations have shifted.
After fresh talks involving Mendes and the club hierarchy, the defender has now decided to look for a “new adventure” in his career. What sounded like background noise in June has become a concrete exit scenario in late August.
Flick’s doubts laid bare
Hansi Flick has not exactly hidden his concerns. Speaking earlier today, the Barcelona manager underlined the standards he expects and hinted at why Balde’s position is no longer secure.
“It’s a difficult question. Balde has a lot of quality. For me it is important, as I have said before, you have to have the condition to compete in a home position and this I want to see in each player,” Flick said.
“I see what they do every day, which shows me that they are ready to play at the highest level. In the end, we will only succeed as a team. We need everyone 100% committed to us.”
The message was clear: talent alone is not enough. Flick wants reliability, intensity, and total buy-in. Balde’s camp has now reacted by opening the door to a move.
There is even a real chance he will not make the squad for tomorrow’s La Liga opener against Elche, a decision that would underline just how far the situation has moved in a matter of days.
Manchester United circle as Milan weigh the cost
Once word spread that Balde could be available, the market responded quickly. Manchester United have already made their interest known. As reported by Fabrizio Romano earlier this week, the Premier League club contacted Mendes to ask about the conditions for a possible transfer and to understand Barcelona’s stance.
AC Milan have also been mentioned as an option, with the player offered to the Italian side. The problem is the price. Barcelona value the Spain international at more than €40 million, a figure that could complicate any Milan move.
Barcelona, for their part, are now ready to sell if a suitable offer lands on the table. A homegrown full-back, once seen as a pillar for the future, is suddenly an asset to cash in on in a tight market.
The clock is ticking on the window, and on Balde’s time in Catalonia. Will a club step up with the fee Barça want, or will one of La Masia’s own be left in limbo as the season kicks off without him?
