Alejandro Balde Set to Leave Barcelona as Future Uncertain

Alejandro Balde, once paraded as Barcelona’s next great left-back, is now heading for the exit. Jijantes FC report that the 22-year-old has decided to leave the club this summer, a stark turn for a La Masia product who had long insisted he wanted to stay and fight.

The change of heart hasn’t come out of nowhere. Jorge Mendes has been in Barcelona this week, and the super-agent is now actively working to secure Balde a new club in the final days of the window. The decision, shaped in recent talks between Mendes, the player and the board, signals the end of a tense summer of doubt around his role.

From future starter to expendable

Balde’s status began to erode last season. He lost his starting spot in the second half of the campaign to Joao Cancelo, and Barcelona then doubled down by re-signing the Portuguese full-back on a permanent deal this summer.

That move reopened all the questions. Was there still a pathway for Balde? Did the club truly trust him at the highest level? Publicly, the answer from the player remained the same: he wanted to stay at Barça and prove himself. Behind the scenes, the tone was shifting.

Hansi Flick added another layer of uncertainty. The new Barcelona coach has harboured doubts about Balde’s readiness and suitability, and he did not hide that when speaking to the media earlier today.

“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, underlining the standards he expects.

“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,” he added.

The message was clear: talent alone would not guarantee minutes. Commitment, competitiveness, and daily performance would decide who survives under Flick. For Balde, that sounded less like reassurance and more like a warning.

Market wakes up: United call, Milan hesitate

Once doubts surfaced, the market reacted quickly.

Manchester United have already made their move. As reported by Fabrizio Romano earlier this week, the Premier League club contacted Mendes to ask about Balde’s situation and to understand the conditions of a possible transfer. United’s interest gives the defender a high-profile escape route and hands Barcelona leverage as they weigh up offers.

AC Milan have also been brought into the conversation. The 22-year-old has been offered to the Italian side, but the price is heavy: a fee above €40 million is seen as a potential stumbling block for the Rossoneri.

Barcelona, for their part, are now open for business. With Balde finally willing to consider a new adventure, the club are prepared to sell their homegrown full-back if a suitable bid lands on the table.

The shift feels sudden, but the consequences could be immediate. There is even a real possibility that Balde will not be included in the squad for tomorrow’s La Liga opener against Elche.

From La Masia hope to a likely departure before the first ball of the season is kicked — Balde’s Barcelona story looks set to end not with a farewell ovation, but with his name quietly missing from the team sheet.