Alejandro Balde walked out of a meeting with Hansi Flick in recent days knowing his Barcelona career is close to over. The Spain international left the room “very emotional and deeply affected” at being pushed toward the exit, according to Spanish journalist Juan Jesus, who broke the story on X on October 16.

The 22-year-old has played 12 minutes of football for Barcelona this season. Every one of them came against Racing Santander, with Barcelona already 5-2 up. Twelve minutes across ten matches, for a player with more than 150 first-team appearances for the club.

Flick’s message was that the pecking order at left-back is now settled. Xavi Espart and Joao Cancelo are ahead of him. Consistent minutes, Juan Jesus wrote, will not come, and Balde’s departure is “practically sealed.”

Barcelona’s price, United’s problem

Barcelona want a permanent sale rather than a loan, and the asking price is being held high.

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“This is not a cheap player. This is not an easy deal to do,” transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano said on his YouTube channel, as cited by Football365.

Balde is represented by Jorge Mendes, and Manchester United already know the file. Michael Carrick’s side made inquiries in the summer transfer window and Barcelona were willing to let him go. It was Balde himself who chose to stay and fight for his place. That decision has not aged well.

Carrick’s left-back is Luke Shaw

Luke Shaw is Carrick’s only remaining specialist left-back after Patrick Dorgu was redeployed as a winger, and Shaw’s injury record has become a running concern through the autumn.

Barcelona want a straight sale. United would prefer a loan. The January window opens on January 1, two and a half months, per the Goal report, to close that gap.

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