Hansi Flick has made it clear that he is comfortable with the Blade situation at Barcelona, even as Alejandro Balde continues to be left on the outside looking in. The Barcelona boss praised the 22-year-old’s professionalism and said he was happy with the current set-up, despite a season in which Balde has barely featured.
It is a striking shift for a player who burst onto the scene in 2022 and was once viewed as one of the club’s most exciting young defenders. This season so far, though, Balde has played only 12 minutes, has been an unused substitute in eight matches, and has watched Xavi Espart establish himself at left-back under Flick.
Barcelona’s wider financial picture also gives this story extra weight. The club did not raise as much money from first-team departures as expected in the summer, and there is now an understanding that sales may be needed in January. That is why Balde’s situation is being watched closely, especially with Man Utd looking for a left-back in the winter.
Flick: two players at an incredible level
Flick was asked about Balde before Barcelona’s match with Real Betis on Saturday, and his answer was calm rather than dramatic. “I know it’s not easy for him, but he’s training well,” he said. “In this position, with Espart and Cancelo, we have two players at an incredible level.”
He added: “I’m happy with this situation.” In other words, Flick is not treating Balde’s reduced role as a problem that needs immediate fixing. For a manager building around performance levels, consistency and trust in selection matter more than reputation alone.
What it means for Barcelona and Man Utd
The key point is that Barcelona appear prepared to keep using the players who are currently delivering at left-back, even if that means Balde stays on the fringes for now. That does not rule out a January move, particularly if Barcelona need to create room financially.
Man Utd had already held talks with Balde’s agent, Jorge Mendes, in the latter stages of the transfer window, and the Red Devils remain in the market. Michael Carrick has said they would “definitely be looking at” the position, while Newcastle’s Lewis Hall signed a new contract, removing one possible route.
Reports around the situation have also pointed to Barcelona asking for €40 million, which underlines how complicated any mid-season deal could become. The fit is there for a club like Man Utd, but the price, the timing and Barcelona’s need for sales all have to line up.
For now, Flick is happy to keep selecting the players in form. For Balde, that means patience. For Barcelona, it means a decision point is coming. And for any club tracking the Blade issue closely, January could become a very interesting month.
