According to Mundo Deportivo, Jorge Mendes made full use of his day-and-a-half stay at FC Barcelona from Thursday afternoon to Friday evening, scheduling back-to-back meetings during João Cancelo's presentation and discussing transfer market developments with Barcelona players he represents, including Marc Casadó and Alejandro Balde.

The Portuguese agent met yesterday with the midfielder (22), who has accepted the reality that he will leave Barcelona and must choose between offers from Europe and Saudi Arabia. He also met with the left-back (22). Regarding Balde, everything remains open, though the Barcelona player's preference is to stay at the club.

Everyone, including Barcelona's defender himself, understands that the return of João Cancelo on a three-year contract, despite being 32 years old, fully reflects Hansi Flick's intentions regarding player selection. Already at the end of last season, the German coach had made the Portuguese player his primary left-back ahead of Balde. Balde was sidelined in July with a pubic bone injury that disrupted his preseason preparation. This meant he was not in optimal condition for Flick's preseason friendlies.

With less than a week and a half remaining before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, September 1st at midnight, Balde's performances have attracted considerable interest in the Premier League, with Manchester United manager Michael Carrick among the interested parties. United's left flank is currently occupied by 31-year-old veteran Luke Shaw, while 19-year-old academy product Harry Amass has emerged this summer after performing well during his loan spell at Norwich in the Championship, England's second tier.

Of course, most teams' squads are largely settled, and it is not easy to make a significant investment for a player like Balde in the final stages of the transfer window. Balde has made 168 appearances for Barcelona since September 2021 and won three La Liga titles with the club. As things stand, the academy graduate has little desire to leave and hopes to turn things around. It depends on whether Flick makes his intentions regarding Balde's role clearer after the first three matches. His contract runs until 2028. If the offer is substantial, Barcelona would not be averse to a sale.

Übersetzt von KI.

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