Алехандро Бальдегийн ирээдүйн талаар Ханси Флик хатуу байр суурь илэрхийллээ

Hansi Flick’s comments about Alejandro Balde on Saturday came as a big surprise.

Balde, 22, had played the first half of Barcelona’s final pre-season friendly against Egyptian side Al Ahly three days earlier, delivering an assist for teenage striker Hamza Abdelkarim in a 2-1 home win at Camp Nou.

But in his press conference to preview Sunday’s La Liga season opener away to Elche, Flick said he didn’t know whether Balde would be in the 23-man matchday squad for that trip — comments that served as a warning.

“It is a difficult decision, and Balde is a player with huge qualities, but what I said before is important: do you have the conviction to compete for your position?” Flick said.

“I see what players do here every day, how they behave and if they show what it takes to be at the top level. That’s the most important thing. I need everyone to be 100 per cent committed to us.”

On the morning of the game, Flick told Balde he had decided to leave him out of the team and squad. Instead, teenager Xavi Espart started at left-back, while Joao Cancelo, who rejoined Barcelona in a permanent move from Al Hilal last week after two prior loan spells at the club, came off the bench in the second half.

“I spoke to him because I felt there was something wrong,” Flick said after the 5-0 win. “I had the feeling that it was best for him to clear his mind, sort out his thoughts and talk again. He agreed to this because there are so many things in his head right now.”

Barca have been open to offers for academy graduate Balde this summer. Back in June, it was believed his development had stalled after five seasons in the first-team squad, and loanee Cancelo had established himself above him in the pecking order in the second half of last season.

In this week’s Transfer DealSheet, The Athletic reported that Manchester United were considering a move for him, with their interest likely to be limited to a loan as they would be cautious over any further spending in the current window.

However, a loan has not been Barcelona’s plan. With just over a week to go before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline, they would likely only sanction a permanent sale and for a significant fee. Balde would also need to be on board with this idea, which is not the case.

Barca sources — speaking anonymously as they did not have permission to discuss the matter, like all consulted for this article — say he will stay if no suitable offer comes in.

But with just under two years left to run on his current contract, the club might not be able to command a high fee for him this time next year, while the seven-time Spain international would have a stronger hand in any renewal talks.

Then, on Tuesday, Flick and Balde had a further conversation.

Sources with knowledge of the situation say Balde was told he is seen as backup to Cancelo right now and that, in order to stay, he needs to show he is willing to work hard and improve. He responded to Flick’s words by saying he accepted the challenge of fighting for his place, and asked to be given minutes on the pitch to make sure he can prove his worth.

People in Balde’s camp were surprised by the developments of the past week, but Barca sources say they asked Jorge Mendes, his representative, to seek offers for him at the start of the summer transfer window. At the time, the defender refused to entertain the idea of leaving. He is very happy with life in Barcelona playing for his boyhood and hometown club, who he joined at age eight after a spell with neighbours Espanyol.

Despite his young age, Balde has made 168 appearances since his debut in September 2021 as a 17-year-old. He was the undisputed starter at left-back in Flick’s first season (2024-25) but towards the end of the next one (during which he missed time in September and March with hamstring injuries) Cancelo emerged as the German’s preferred option there.

Balde possesses outstanding physical attributes, great pace and is more than capable of matching Barca’s technical demands. But a perceived lack of focus and examples of concentration issues during games have led to him falling out of favour.

Against Elche, Flick selected another La Masia graduate, Espart, in Balde’s place. The 19-year-old is a former midfielder who has been converted to right-back in recent years, but he started at left-back on Sunday.

First-team sources have been underwhelmed with Balde’s recent progress and perceived attitude towards improving his game. According to multiple voices familiar with the situation, Flick does not consider him one of the squad’s most intense players when it comes to training.

Sources close to Balde admit his development has not been as expected since signing his most recent contract extension in 2023. When he first broke into the first team the previous year, Balde impressed in usurping an ageing Jordi Alba — one of the best left-backs in the club’s history but well into his thirties by that stage.

Flick with two-goal Fermin Lopez after Sunday’s win away to Elche (Jose Jordan/AFP via Getty Images)

This summer, Balde also reported for pre-season with a back injury that prevented him from making a full start from day one.

Club sources were not hugely thrilled by that, given Balde was not involved in the World Cup — his most recent appearance for Spain was in October 2023 — and had plenty of time to take care of himself and start 2026-27 in the best possible condition. Sources from Balde’s camp say he had been working with a personal fitness coach before returning to the club to begin official training.

There is time for the situation to change. Though he’s not coming off his best season, Balde is still young and has often been described as having high potential.

Yet there are younger La Masia prospects who do not possess his physicality but who have impressed Flick more with other aspects of their game. As well as Espart, 17-year-old Jordi Pesquer spent pre-season with the first team and is seen as a left-back with a great future.

It is never pleasant for Barcelona supporters to see a highly-rated prospect struggle to meet expectations. There would be significant disappointment among the fanbase if Balde were to leave. But there is also an acknowledgement that he has not progressed as he should have — and standards are extremely high under Flick at the back-to-back Spanish champions.