Barcelona's 22-year-old homegrown left-back Balde is experiencing the toughest period of his career. So far this season, he has made zero appearances and no playing time, has been completely sidelined by head coach Flick, and has disappeared from the team's tactical setup.

Last season, Balde was plagued by injuries, missing 10 matches, and his form suffered as a result. Barcelona subsequently placed him on the transfer list over the summer, hoping to sell him. Towards the end of the transfer window, Manchester United showed interest in signing the young full-back, but the two clubs could not agree on a fee and the deal collapsed. Notably, Balde himself was adamant about staying at the club. His contract with Barcelona runs until 2028, features a reported €1 billion release clause, and he was determined to fight for his place at Camp Nou.

However, his decision to stay has backfired. In Barcelona's opening La Liga match against Elche, Flick excluded Balde from the squad entirely, citing a lack of focus. Currently, in the competition for Barcelona's left-back position, Martin and Cancelo occupy the top two spots, with Balde significantly further down the pecking order. In fact, he is a fringe player for the team.

The statistics underline his predicament: among all available outfield players in Barcelona's first team this season, only Balde and Fariñas have failed to make a single appearance. The team's two backup goalkeepers, Livaković and Szczęsny, have also played no minutes, while De Jong sidelined by long-term injuries.

This stands in stark contrast to last season: at the start of the 2025-26 campaign, Balde was a regular starter, featuring in all three of Barcelona's opening La Liga matches and accumulating 222 minutes, with only five unused substitute appearances throughout the entire season. Yet in just over ten days into the current campaign, his fortunes have reversed dramatically.

Barcelona sporting director Deco addressed Balde's situation in an interview with RAC1 radio, speaking with objectivity and directness: "Nothing has changed—he is still our player. He is only 22 years old with a bright future and is contracted to the best club in the world. What he needs to do is compete actively and prove himself."

Deco added: "Balde performed at a high level over the past two years, but his form declined last season due to injuries. If he addresses his physical and mental condition and returns to his best, he absolutely deserves to establish himself at Barcelona and earn playing time."

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