Hansi Flick's surprise decision to leave Alejandro Balde out of Barcelona's squad for the clash with Elche has sparked widespread controversy within the corridors of the Catalan club. Observers read it as far more than a mere tactical call.
The German coach had confirmed in his press conference that the exclusion did not mean opening the door to the young full-back's departure. Rather, it stemmed from his feeling that the player is going through a difficult period and needs time to reorganise his thoughts. The two parties are expected to hold a decisive meeting next Monday to dot the i's and cross the t's.
According to what was revealed by the programme "Què t'hi Jugues!" on "Cadena SER" radio, Barcelona's management remains convinced that Balde has every quality needed to be the best in Europe in his position. Their concern is that he is not putting in the effort required to reach that status.
Flick's decision landed as an alarm bell to wake him up. The player himself was stunned, having fully expected to be in the squad. Despite the shock, those close to him conveyed his determination to stay and defend his place.
Analyst Santi Ovalle explained that nobody told Balde at any moment during the summer that he was out of the coaching staff's plans. That silence led him to reject several offers, only to now be surprised by a completely different reality.
Fellow analyst Jofre Mateu believes Flick deliberately used the Balde case to send a collective message to the rest of the team. Having warned last season of the danger of complacency following the title triumph, the German knows the team faces a historic opportunity to win LaLiga for three consecutive seasons, a feat achieved only by Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola. He wanted to stress that there is no untouchable player.
Elsewhere, the future of the duo Héctor Fort and Marc Casadó appears to lie outside the walls of the Camp Nou, given that they have not yet secured minutes with the first team. Fort is attracting interest from Real Sociedad and Borussia Dortmund, with the German club holding the advantage thanks to its financial capacity.
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Any move to bring in a new full-back remains contingent on Balde's departure, a scenario that is currently unlikely. Should it happen, the sporting management have Jorge Salinas on their table, the Racing Santander full-back and one of the most prominent stars of the club's promotion to LaLiga last season.