Flick Excludes Balde from Barcelona Squad Over Commitment Concerns
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick left-back Alejandro Balde was dropped from the squad for the La Liga opener against Elche, citing a lack of 100% commitment. Balde, who rejected summer transfer offers to stay, was told to stay home and clear his mind. Flick later clarified he did not ask Balde to leave. Meanwhile, Gavi suffered a knee injury (same knee as 2023), but initial reports suggest it may be less severe than feared. Barcelona won 5-0, with Raphinha scoring twice.
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Balde to Stay at Barcelona After Being Dropped, Told to Compete for Place from Bench
According to SER radio program 'Què T'hi Jugues!', Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde will remain with the club despite being left out of the squad for the match against Elche. Head coach Hansi Flick had a brief conversation with Balde, informing him he must accept a substitute role and compete to win back his place. Balde accepted the condition but stressed he needs playing time to prove himself. After the omission, which was seen as a warning following previous criticisms of his attitude, Balde reportedly delivered an outstanding training performance on Monday. Flick's disciplinary approach was endorsed by club figures, with the omission described as a 'final ultimatum.' Balde is expected to be included in the matchday squad for the next game.
FC Barcelona Defender Alejandro Balde Decides to Stay at Club Ahead of Athletic Clash
FC Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde has decided to remain at the club for the 2026/2027 season, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano and COPE. The 22-year-old, who had been heavily linked with an exit, informed Barcelona of his desire to stay and compete for a spot. Manager Hansi Flick confirmed Balde is part of the squad for Thursday's La Liga home debut against Athletic Club, reversing a previous omission that fueled exit speculation. Manchester United had explored a loan with an option to buy, but Barcelona pushed for a permanent sale at €30-40 million. Balde's contract runs until 2028. The article argues that keeping Balde is better than a cheap sale, noting his Champions League experience and three La Liga titles, and suggests a loan with a buy option above €55 million if he must leave.
Read sourceFlick Publicly Pressures Barcelona Left-Back Balde to Leave, Teammates Shocked
According to World Sports reporter Xavier Bosch, Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde has faced intense public pressure from head coach Hansi Flick over three days. The saga began with agent Mendes meeting sporting director Deco to discuss Balde's future, followed by Flick's press conference opening the door for Balde's departure. Balde was then excluded from the matchday squad against Elche, with Flick publicly stating Balde is 'not at 100%' and 'not fully focused.' After a 5-0 victory, Flick softened his stance but maintained the criticism. The article claims Flick's actions are aimed at forcing Balde out to secure a transfer fee, rather than helping him regain form. Balde's teammates were reportedly shocked by the treatment but remained silent, partly due to Flick's authority as head coach who personally appointed the captain.
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Balde Unhappy with Flick After Being Dropped; Rejected Summer Moves to Stay at Barcelona
According to El País, Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde is unhappy with coach Hansi Flick after being excluded from the squad for the first La Liga match against Elche. Flick publicly stated he told Balde he is not at 100% and should 'think things over,' a move that surprised Balde's camp. Sources close to Balde reveal he rejected multiple offers during the summer transfer window to stay at Barcelona, and is frustrated that this situation arose with only one week left before the window closes. Flick's decision was vindicated as converted right-back Xavi Espart impressed in Balde's position, providing an assist and scoring a goal. Meanwhile, midfielder Gavi suffered discomfort in his right knee, the same knee that was seriously injured in 2023, raising concerns. Barcelona won the match 5-0 without a pure striker, with Raphinha scoring twice.
Read sourceFC Barcelona Coach Flick Provides Gavi Injury Update and Discusses Striker and Balde Situations
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick addressed several key topics after his team's 5-0 season-opening victory against Elche on August 23, 2026. Flick provided an update on midfielder Gavi, who was substituted before halftime after clutching his surgically-repaired right knee; an MRI is scheduled to assess the injury. Regarding the need for a new striker (the 'number 9' position), Flick stated he would discuss options with sporting director Deco, despite the team's strong attacking performance led by captain Raphinha. Flick also clarified the absence of left-back Alejandro Balde from the matchday squad, explaining he felt Balde was mentally distracted and advised him to clear his head before further talks. Barcelona's next match is at home against Athletic Club.
Read sourceFlick: Did not ask Balde to leave; Gavi's injury feels slightly better than expected
Barcelona defeated Elche 5-0 away in La Liga's second round. Coach Hansi Flick addressed several topics in the post-match press conference. He clarified that he did not ask Alejandro Balde to leave the team, explaining that Balde had personal matters on his mind and was given time to sort them out. Regarding Gavi's knee injury, Flick said further tests are needed but the player reported feeling slightly better than initially thought. Flick praised the team's performance, especially the clean sheet and five goals, while noting too many unnecessary turnovers in the first half. He highlighted Raphinha's captain-like mentality and Xavi Espart's versatility. On the possibility of signing a number 9, Flick stated he will continue discussions with sporting director Deco next week.
Read sourceFlick: Balde not 100% committed, told to stay home and sort out thoughts
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick, in a pre-match interview before the La Liga opener against Elche, revealed that left-back Alejandro Balde was omitted from the squad because he is not fully committed. Flick stated he spoke with Balde that morning, told him he felt the player was not 100% focused, and advised him to stay home to sort out his thoughts, with further talks planned for the next day. Flick also discussed the team's readiness despite a tough preseason and late returns from the World Cup, and analyzed Elche's possession-based style. He noted the need to manage playing time for World Cup participants versus players with more training rhythm.
Read sourceBalde Excluded from Barcelona Squad by Flick Despite Being Ready to Travel
According to an exclusive report by foreign media outlet The Touchline, Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde has been removed from the matchday squad for the upcoming away game against Elche by head coach Hansi Flick. Balde was originally prepared to travel with the entire Barcelona team, but Flick made a last-minute decision to exclude him from the first-team traveling list. The news was reported by Hupu Soccer on August 23rd, citing the exclusive report. The reason for the exclusion has not been disclosed, and the development has sparked discussion among fans, with some questioning the necessity of selling Balde.