According to Sport, the player wants to stay at Barcelona and has been unwilling to push for a departure, believing he can regain the trust of Flick's coaching staff.

Reportedly, during the final hours of the summer transfer window, the situation surrounding Barcelona and Balde remained deadlocked. After one season, his performance had declined significantly compared to his first season under Flick, and the club informed his agent early in the summer that they were willing to listen to transfer offers.

The player wants to stay at Barcelona and has been unwilling to push for a departure, believing he still has a chance to regain Flick's trust. However, Flick's assessment criteria have remained unchanged throughout the summer. Flick believes Balde has great potential but is still far from realizing that potential.

Balde saw some playing time during preseason, but the coaching staff prioritized other full-back options. Flick values tactically versatile players like Sparre and also requested that Cancelo be retained for the left-back position.

In August, Flick met with the player and advised him to consider seeking playing time elsewhere, as his opportunities within the team were not expected to be significant. Flick conveyed the same message internally: to earn more playing time, a player must have the determination to fight for a spot.

In the final 10 days of the transfer window, the sporting department proposed various solutions to find a suitable destination for Balde. The most notable was a swap offer to Inter involving Di Marco, but Inter rejected it.

Additionally, Barcelona held talks with Man United, but negotiations did not progress. Balde's exclusion from the squad for the Elche match further confirmed the coaching staff's stance. On match day, he only learned of his omission after arriving at the training ground, which surprised both him and the entire team.

Although Flick has publicly acknowledged Balde's physical and technical qualities, he has insisted on his method, which is based on intensity and commitment. Flick believes Balde has not yet fully met the requirements in these areas.

Balde will now remain in Barcelona's first-team squad and will start the season as a substitute. Whether he gets playing time will depend on the progression of various competitions and the coaching staff's demands. Clearly, the season is long and many variables lie ahead, so Balde will still have opportunities.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse the latest news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com