Mundo Deportivo has reported that a tempting offer has been made to a prominent FC Barcelona first-team player by the renowned Premier League giants, Manchester City.
Alejandro Balde, a talented product of La Masia, burst onto the scene in 2020 under the guidance of former head coach Ronald Koeman. However, it was under the watchful eye of the current manager, Xavi Hernandez, that the 19-year-old left-back firmly cemented his place in the starting lineup, displacing the now-departed club legend, Jordi Alba.
Playing a crucial role in the formidable defensive line, consisting of Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and Jules Kounde, Balde, an international for Spain, contributed significantly to Barcelona’s triumphant La Liga campaign, securing their first title in four years.
Similar to his teammates Araujo and Gavi, Balde’s future at Camp Nou hasn’t always been crystal clear. While Gavi and Araujo successfully negotiated new contracts, hurdles imposed by Financial Fair Play regulations complicated the registration process. Barca’s ongoing economic struggles have hindered their ability to secure Balde’s long-term commitment.
Guided by the influential super agent Jorge Mendes, Balde is set to become a free agent in 2024, a fact widely recognized by several top-tier European clubs vying for his signature.
Although Balde has previously been linked with a move to Chelsea, recent reports from Mundo Deportivo indicate that the reigning Premier League and Champions League champions, Manchester City, have presented an enticing offer to the player’s representatives.
According to the Catalan publication, the wealthy Abu Dhabi-backed club tabled a proposal far surpassing Balde’s current reported annual salary of €200,000 ($225,000).
Yet, echoing the decisions of Gavi and Araujo, who resisted the allure of hefty contracts from rival clubs, Balde has displayed no interest in switching allegiances. Instead, he prefers the prospect of earning a lower salary while continuing to ply his trade under the leadership of Xavi at Barcelona. The young prodigy has garnered admiration from Xavi for his remarkable mental fortitude.
Reports suggest that Balde has never contemplated leaving the club he has been with since the tender age of eight, especially now that the left-back position is his to claim following Alba’s anticipated departure to join Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami.
At present, it appears highly likely that Balde’s contract will be extended until at least 2027, and possibly even 2028. Although he currently receives a salary comparable to that of a reserve team player due to Financial Fair Play restrictions, his earnings are expected to substantially increase once Barcelona resolves its financial woes and can finalize a lucrative agreement.
With Barcelona’s transfer activities coming to a halt, unless an unforeseen windfall materializes, the club’s focus should rightly shift toward renewing and extending contracts of their existing stars. This strategy entails offloading surplus players and alleviating financial burdens to create flexibility within the payroll structure.
