FC Barcelona is already considering Balde's replacement

FC Barcelona

Although the summer market is still far off, the sports departments have been working for some time. In that scenario, FC Barcelona is clear that, after being eliminated from the Copa del Rey and Champions League, they cannot afford to fail in LaLiga. Right now, they are nine points behind Real Madrid, who will have to push hard in the national tournament if they want to avoid another titleless season and, moreover, will have to go through Camp Nou to try to topple Flick's team.

Amid rumors of incoming and outgoing transfers, the latest name to surface is that of Álex Grimaldo. The left back, an international, was trained in the youth academy of Valencia CF before moving to Barça's academy at 13 years old. His career then took him to Benfica and later to join Leverkusen on a free transfer, where he is considered one of the team's and the Bundesliga's standout players.

The Valencian, now 30 years old, fits the profile of an attacking wing-back who contributes offensively: in the German league this season, he has so far recorded 8 goals and 7 assists. Given his situation and performance, he has no shortage of suitors, although Barça is among the clubs with the strongest interest.

The deal was already on the table last summer. At that time, his return to Barcelona was halted by Gerard Martín's refusal to move to the Wolves. Now, the academy graduate has gained more influence by performing well both as a full-back and even as a center-back.

91

Alejandro Balde
3.150.000€-40.000€    4

J1

DF

20

On the other hand, Alejandro Balde has been losing prominence. The young international will be sought for a transfer and, if confirmed, Grimaldo's name will reemerge as the first alternative among several being considered. According to the newspaper Sport, his transfer fee could be around 12 million. In any case, teams like Atlético de Madrid in Spain, or Milan and Juve in Serie A, will also come back for him. Will he use the 2026 World Cup as a springboard or finalize an agreement beforehand? Time will tell.