Agent Jorge Mendes recently held meetings in London and Milan to negotiate the transfer of a player from Barcelona who was once considered essential in Hansi Flick’s plans. However, he was not convinced by the player’s performances.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional,” Alejandro Balde, who has faced heavy criticism this season, is still far from meeting expectations, similar to last season when he lost his starting position in the team.
It was Xavi Hernandez who gave Balde the opportunity to prove himself in the first team, choosing him over more experienced teammates such as Jordi Alba and Marcos Alonso. Balde repaid this trust with a series of impressive performances, establishing himself as one of the best full-backs in the world and was expected to be one of the main pillars of the team’s project.
Unfortunately, he has struggled to maintain his consistency, and was already the target of criticism last season. Injuries also didn’t help, as he was sidelined for extended periods, an issue that has continued into this year, with Balde missing several matches.
At Barcelona, there is dissatisfaction with the progress he has made, with Balde still occupying the starting spot mainly due to the weakness of his replacement, Gerard Martin, who has not been performing as expected.
Meanwhile, Hansi Flick seems to lack trust in Balde, and has requested that Joan Laporta and Deco explore the possibility of signing a specialist left-back. Names such as Alphonso Davies, who could join on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, and David Raum from RB Leipzig have been mentioned. Barcelona might also consider selling Balde if they receive a tempting offer that would bring in significant revenue.
Mendes has already started negotiations with some interested European clubs, with Barcelona setting an initial price of around 50 million euros. Among the clubs interested in the player so far, Milan and Arsenal appear to be the most keen, and they have already begun preliminary talks. If the clubs meet the required amount, the deal could be concluded soon.