Many of Barcelona’s players are suffering from a significant decline in their performances, as they are far from their best versions.
This decline has worried Hansi Flick, who is becoming increasingly concerned about the drop in the performances of some players who were once considered essential in his squad.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional”, this deterioration could lead to these players losing their positions as key elements in the team. One case that has particularly caught the eye is that of Alejandro Balde, who continues to face constant disappointment.
After a season full of criticism due to his drop in performance, Balde had to prove himself this season. He suffered a serious injury that kept him off the field for several months, and it was expected that he would return to his usual level this year. Hansi Flick showed great confidence in his abilities, and in the summer, he completely rejected the idea of selling him, expecting the player to make significant progress.
However, physical problems continue to haunt him, and his performance is still far from the level he was at two seasons ago, when he was considered one of the best players in his position in the world.
This situation has led Deco and Joan Laporta to consider signing a new left-back who can compete for a starting spot with the current trio, as Gerard Martín is not a reliable alternative. Among the names that have been circulated are Alejandro Grimaldo and Alphonso Davies.
Balde faces a big challenge if he wants to keep his place at Camp Nou, and he could be permanently excluded from Luis de la Fuente’s plans for the Spanish national team. He has not been called up to the “La Roja” squad for over a year and missed the European Championship due to injury. However, he still hopes to return to the national team and be a regular in the squad, as he was before.
But if things continue this way, De la Fuente does not intend to rely on the Spaniard, despite many observers expecting him to be the successor to Jordi Alba at both Barcelona and the national team.
Balde also faces strong competition in the national team, which includes several distinguished players in the left-back position. Marc Cucurella and Alejandro Grimaldo are currently key players in the squad, while De la Fuente is also keeping tabs on Miguel Gutiérrez and Álvaro Carreras. If Balde wants to return to the Spanish national team, he will have to take on more responsibility at Barcelona and perform better to earn his place in both the club and national team.