Barcelona’s defensive crisis fails to give Balde a chance as Flick continues to leave him out.

Despite Barcelona’s defensive injury crisis, Alejandro Balde remains outside Hansi Flick’s plans to the extent many had expected, making the Spanish full-back’s situation at the Catalan club increasingly difficult at a time when the manager needs urgent solutions to cover the absences.

Barcelona are facing a shortage of defensive options ahead of their match against Deportivo Alaves, with Eric Garcia, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen and Xavi Espart unavailable. Although these circumstances were expected to give Balde a greater opportunity to return to the starting line-up, reports suggest that the player is still struggling to regain the coaching staff’s confidence.

According to a report published by Barca Universal, citing El Pais, Balde’s situation in Barcelona training has become complicated, with Flick reportedly dissatisfied with his performances and commitment. The report states that the player does not regularly train in his natural left-back position and is sometimes used as a winger or centre-back, depending on the needs of the training session.

The report also states that Balde frequently trains with the substitutes rather than the group expected to feature in the starting line-up, reflecting his reduced standing in the German manager’s plans in recent weeks.

The situation dates back to the beginning of the season, when Balde rejected opportunities to leave Barcelona during the summer, preferring to stay and fight to regain his place. However, his playing time has remained limited, with the report stating that he has played just 88 minutes across the team’s last 12 matches.

Flick addressed Balde’s situation during his press conference ahead of the Alaves match, explaining that the player currently lacks the confidence needed to perform at his best, particularly when it comes to attacking runs and pressing high up the pitch.

The German manager said that full-backs are extremely important to Barcelona’s style of play, adding that Balde needs to regain his confidence to reach the level the team expects from him.

These developments have raised questions about the player’s future, especially amid continued reports of a possible departure during the January transfer window. Although the current defensive crisis could offer him another opportunity, reports do not suggest that he is guaranteed regular playing time.

Balde now faces a major challenge in convincing Flick that he can reclaim his place, whether by improving his performances in training or making the most of any opportunities that arise in the coming weeks. Barcelona, meanwhile, need to restore defensive stability before entering a more demanding period of the season.