Alejandro Balde is no longer untouchable at Barcelona. That is the quiet but significant shift in the club's internal thinking, and it has opened a door that several of Europe's biggest clubs are now actively pushing.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Manchester United, Manchester City and Aston Villa have all made approaches to understand Balde's situation. A follow-up report from Sport adds that Liverpool have now entered the picture, with the two Premier League heavyweights leading the race ahead of the summer window. No formal offers have been submitted, but the level of interest is described as firm and growing.
Barcelona's openness to a sale is being driven by financial pragmatism. The club remains under pressure from Financial Fair Play regulations, and a significant sale in the summer would give them the room to pursue their priority targets, notably Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni. The logic is stark: cash in on an academy product whose stock remains high, use the proceeds to fund a long-term defensive upgrade.
Balde's situation on the pitch has contributed to the conversation. He started only twice in Barcelona's last five league fixtures, with Joao Cancelo and Gerard Martin both preferred at left back during that stretch. Flick retains confidence in him, and there is no suggestion of a falling out, but the competition for his position has intensified.
The 22-year-old's own stance is clear. He does not want to leave Barcelona. His agent, Jorge Mendes, who also represents Marcus Rashford, maintains a strong relationship with president Joan Laporta, and the situation around the Rashford loan has kept both clubs in regular dialogue. Manchester United have explored whether a Rashford sale and Balde acquisition could be structured as part of a broader deal.
Barcelona value the left back at around €70 million. His contract runs until 2028. No club has yet met that valuation with a formal bid. But summer is approaching, and at €70 million for a 22-year-old Spanish international with over 150 appearances for one of the world's biggest clubs, the interest is unlikely to cool.
