Barcelona will only consider a permanent exit for fringe player in January – Romano

Barcelona will only consider a permanent exit for fringe player in January – Romano Alejandro Balde is one of the few players who is having a torrid time this season even as Barcelona continue their drum start to the campaign. The Spaniard has completely fallen out of favour, with Hansi Flick clearly favouring the duo of Xavi Espart and Joao Cancelo in the left-back position. As a result, Balde has barely played any football this season and his future at Barcelona is under serious doubt. Barcelona will only consider a permanent sale Balde has no future at Barcelona. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images) Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has offered a fresh update on the future of Balde. With Flick having made clear that the club is well stocked at left-back, the 22-year-old finds himself firmly on the fringes. Despite working hard in training, meaningful minutes have proven almost impossible to come by, a situation that has prompted the La Masia graduate to weigh up a January exit having insisted only months ago that he wished to stay and fight. Balde was considered a candidate for sale during the summer. The player himself preferred to remain, but the club were open to a departure had the right offer arrived. Manchester United were among the interested parties, yet no deal materialised, with his high valuation and salary demands proving difficult for any suitor to meet. A situation to watch What’s next for Balde? (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) Looking ahead, Barcelona’s stance is clear: only a significant, permanent fee would tempt them into sanctioning his departure. That makes the coming months ones to monitor closely, particularly with his agent, Jorge Mendes, continuing to explore opportunities with various clubs. United remain an obvious name to keep an eye on should they revive their interest in the winter window. From Barcelona’s perspective, a sale could actually serve a dual purpose. The funds raised might allow the club to reinforce an area left untouched in the summer, namely left-footed centre-back, a position that has become a concern following Andreas Christensen’s injury. For now, Balde remains a Barcelona player, tied to the club until 2028. But with his game time having dried up and genuine interest lurking elsewhere, the sense is growing that a parting of ways may only be a matter of time.