Alejandro Balde wants out of Barcelona. The left-back has decided to seek a move in the closing days of the summer window, a surprise twist in the future of one of the Catalan side's players.
According to Catalan outlet "Jijantes", Balde reached the decision after recent talks and the atmosphere he sensed inside the club. His Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes has already begun working to find him a new team before the window shuts.
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Timing matters here. Joao Cancelo has returned to Barcelona permanently, ramping up the competition for the left-back berth.
Spanish reports over the past few days have pointed to Manchester United's interest in Balde, with the English club contacting his representatives to explore a potential deal.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick addressed the situation at a press conference on Saturday: "It's a difficult question. Balde has great quality. For me, it is important, as I have said before, to be able to compete for your position every time, and this is what I want to see from every player".
Flick went on: "I see what they do every day, and what they prove to me by it, that they are ready to play at the highest level. We need everyone. In the end, we will only achieve success as a team. We need everyone to be 100% committed to us".
Speculation about his future had been building for weeks. Balde himself, after the Joan Gamper Cup match against Egypt's Al Ahly, insisted he was focused on his level and preparing for the new season.
A confirmed departure would leave Barcelona facing a big decision over one of their own. Balde joined the club at the age of eight and climbed through the youth ranks before becoming a key figure for the first team and the Spanish national side.
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