By OkayGoal
Alejandro Balde has played 88 minutes of football for Barcelona this season, and his head coach has just explained why in unusually blunt terms, which should have Manchester United paying attention.
The Spain international was the subject of plenty of speculation in the summer, with United among the clubs keen on him, but he stayed at Barcelona. It has not gone well since.
Hansi Flick was asked about him ahead of Saturday’s La Liga game with Alaves, and he did not dress it up.
What did Hansi Flick say about Alejandro Balde?
Flick told reporters: “Balde doesn’t have the confidence he needs to play, the conviction to attack and press high. The full-backs are very important for us, in our style of play. He needs confidence to reach his best level.”
The strange part is that there is a real opening for him. He came off the bench against Real Madrid last weekend because of an injury to Xavi Espart, who now faces a lengthy spell out. Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen and Eric Garcia are injured too.
Would Alejandro Balde solve Man United’s left-back problem?
United certainly have the vacancy. Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu are both on the sidelines, while none of Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui or Ayden Heaven have convinced on that side. It is a big reason why a January loan for Rayan Ait-Nouri has been discussed.
This is also not a new idea. United were linked with a €40m bid for Balde back in March, and there have been suggestions of a loan since. Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in the 23-year-old.
Alejandro Balde’s Barcelona numbers
The track record is what makes this tempting. He has made 171 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions, with three goals and 21 assists, and at his peak his skillset put him among the leading full-backs in world football.
His career has stalled at Camp Nou, but a change of scene in the Premier League could be just what it needs.
Should Man United go for Alejandro Balde in January?
We think so, provided it is a loan. Taking a 23-year-old with that many Barcelona games behind him is a sensible gamble for a club with this few fit left-backs, and it would not tie anyone to a big fee. The obvious catch is that a player short of confidence is walking into a side with plenty of problems of its own, under a head coach who may not be around for long. If Flick keeps talking like this, though, speculation over his future will only grow as January gets closer.