Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has on Tuesday provided an insight into the lack of playing time afforded to defensive star Alejandro Balde over the early weeks of the season.
Stopper Balde is for his part of course fresh off a tumultuous few months all told in Catalunya’s capital.
After enduring a largely difficult campaign from an individual standpoint in 2025/26, the Spaniard was heavily linked with a Barcelona exit throughout the summer.
In the end, the 22-year-old stayed put, but manager Hansi Flick has since made clear that Balde sits well down the left-back pecking order in his squad.
As things stand, both summer signing João Cancelo and breakout youngster Xavi Espart are considered as being ahead of Balde when it comes to Barca’s first-choice XI.
Speaking during an exchange with the media on Tuesday, the subject of his struggling defender’s situation was in turn put to Flick himself.
And the German tactician was honest in his response, explaining:
“Balde? At the moment, we have five full-backs, two on the right and three on the left. Nobody expected Xavi Espart to play at this level. Balde needs to show his best. He’s already showing it in training. He’s not happy because he wants to play and he’s not getting minutes. He’s been key these last two years. Things change. There’s a different dynamic; we have to manage it. He’s doing well. I’m happy with him. It’s not an easy situation, but it’s competition for positions.”
Conor Laird – GSFN
