Barca News
Balde emerged like a hurricane in Barcelona’s first team last season. His outburst was so great that it forced Xavi to put Jordi Alba on the bench because of it. The strange thing is that Alba lived the same way as Xavi lived with Rakitic in the 2014-2015 season.
Alejandro, who is only 19 years old, deserved to sign the renewal that linked him, last September, until 2028, with the Blaugrana entity.
But professional football does not allow a young player to doubt that, despite his enormous potential, he is still a newcomer to the elite. Balde has become a victim of the demands of playing at Barcelona, and in recent matches, he has lost a lot of fame. Against Atletico, as happened against Villarreal in the third round of the league, he remained without playing a single minute for the second time this season.
The defender warmed up for several minutes during the second half of the match against the Colchoneros, but in the end he did not enter the field of play because Xavi preferred to give minutes to Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Fermin Lopez.
According to journalist Gerard Romero, the young player did not like the decision, who clearly went to the locker room angry as soon as the match ended and missed the celebration that his teammates experienced at Montjuïc Stadium.
The arrival of Cancelo, whose versatility allows him to perform at a very high level on both sides of the defence, means increased competition for Balde, who has become the undisputed starter in his position and to which he will now have to fight to return. He has been a substitute in the last two games, and the feeling is that, due to the team’s new way of playing, he will continue on the bench.
If the situation continues over time, the discussion will no longer revolve around his fame, but rather about the possibility of Barcelona considering selling him and benefiting financially. The numbers do not allow for much joy, and to continue strengthening the team with important players it will be necessary to achieve sales. Some of them may be unpopular, as is clearly the case with Alejandro Balde.
In the English Premier League, there are many teams that have asked about him, and at the moment the answer is negative. He has a €1,000m termination clause and a long-term contract. But it is clear that the young player is risking his future as a Blaugrana player this season. Xavi relies on him and reserves an important role for him, but it is Balde who has to earn it every day.
Source: Sport
