Flick rules out Balde, Jordi Alba's heir remains Barça's final option
Alejandro Balde is going through one of the most delicate periods of his Barcelona experience and his career. The left‑back, after immediately establishing himself as a starter and as one of the most interesting players also from a national perspective, has progressively lost his central role in Hansi Flick's technical project.
A situation that no longer seems linked only to rotations, but to a genuine loss of confidence from the German coach. Born in 2003, Balde seemed destined to inherit Jordi Alba’s legacy after the breakthrough with Xavi. Barcelona had secured him with a contract extension until 2028 and a very high release clause, banking on his qualities: great speed, one‑on‑one ability and constant offensive drive.
The numbers from the last seasons still confirm the player’s value: in 2024/25 he logged 47 total appearances, 40 of them as a starter, while in 2025/26 he featured 42 times, starting 31 matches. However, his performance has been hampered by some physical issues, including back problems reported in the summer that complicated his preparation. Consequently, Flick has begun to question his performance.
"Balde doesn’t have the confidence needed to play, the conviction to attack and to press high. Full‑backs are very important in our game," the coach explained recently. In recent months the situation has worsened: Flick reshuffled the hierarchy on the left flank and Balde has become practically the last choice, behind Joao Cancelo, Xavi Espart and even the youngster Brian Fariñas, who started the last match won against Atlético Madrid alongside the Portuguese. Adding to this picture is the fact that Spain has not called him up since October 2023.
Evaluation and market prospects
The player’s future is a hot topic and Barcelona would be willing to entertain significant offers, with a valuation that could hover around €40‑45 million. A sum that makes a permanent transfer complicated, but could open the door to alternative arrangements. In Serie A, the main suitors are Roma and Juventus, though they will face stiff competition. The departure nevertheless looks inevitable, to revive a career that has suffered an abrupt setback far too early.