Alejandro Balde has become a January name to watch after his role at Barcelona shrank to just 12 minutes of La Liga football this season. Manchester United and Liverpool are among the clubs circling, while Barcelona are willing to consider either a sale or a loan. The missing piece is whether Balde actually wants the move.
Barcelona's position on Balde
The club side of the story is already clear enough. Barcelona are open to doing a deal, but the structure is still unsettled, with a sale or a loan both still under discussion.
That leaves Balde in an awkward spot. One report says he has one first-team appearance this season, another says he has played 12 minutes in La Liga. Either way, the usage is far below what he managed last season, when he made 42 appearances across all competitions.
United and Liverpool in the picture
Manchester United were spoken to about a potential January loan deal for Balde, which is the first concrete sign of interest in this market. Liverpool are also in the frame, so this has already moved beyond a simple Barcelona decision.
The player side still matters. A Football Insider report said Balde is now more open to leaving Barcelona in January, but that is not the same as wanting out. Barcelona value him at around €40 million in one report and around £30 million in another, and his contract runs until 2028.
United's interest also fits a broader search at left-back, with David Raum, Lewis Hall and Tyrick Mitchell all under consideration. The Balde chase is the most eye-catching because his situation at Barcelona has changed so sharply, and because the January window gives Barcelona a chance to decide whether they cash in or keep him attached to the squad.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
