According to Sport journalist Ferran Correas, Barcelona left-back Balde's mindset has changed. Having played only 12 minutes across ten matches this season, he is now seriously considering leaving Barcelona in the January transfer window and has already discussed the possibility of a departure with his agent, Mendes.
During an interview while training in England this summer, Balde was adamant in his stance despite interest from Manchester United and warnings from Flick about his future. He stated that Barcelona was his home, rejected a transfer, and hoped to stay until his contract expired in 2028. However, his current situation this season has prompted a change in his thinking.
Even before the transfer window closed, he was left out of the squad for the match against Elche. Although he has since been included in the squad, his opportunities have been minimal. Flick prefers two players at left-back: Cancelo and Balde's primary competition. Cancelo has played a total of 386 minutes across 8 games, while Balde has been sidelined. The two have shared playing time on the left flank, pushing Balde to the margins.
Although Flick has publicly stated that Balde is still part of the team, he needs to compete for a starting spot. In this situation, Balde is already considering a move in the winter window, and there will be no shortage of potential suitors, with Manchester United, who were interested in him in the summer, potentially making another approach.
With two and a half months until the winter window opens, it seems unlikely his situation will improve. Barcelona's sporting department is not opposed to Balde's departure, maintaining the same stance as in the summer. The club even plans that if Balde leaves, they will use the transfer budget to strengthen the left-footed center-back position, which is currently the team's weakness following Christensen's injury.
AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com