3 - Alejandro Balde

[Porque]

Don't have a problem with Mendes. Sure he looks out for his clients but he is also respected by the major clubs and generally does not play them against eachother like Raiola for example.

We may be forced to give Balde a chance earlier than anticipated, but we don't have the overbooking at LB for this to be a hinderance.

He is not outstanding in the B but he is good. He has the technical aspects and speed to adapt to the first team where he will have better team mates and better pitches. I've read coaches say that his issue is switching off at times which is something most young players have, and especially at a lower level where you do not have the intensity or pressure to always keep focused.

 

[DonAK]

Good decision by him to hire Mendes.

If you were a footballer you'd like to get the best representation possible and as Porque said Mendes is respected by most top clubs because he is a professional in his work.

 

[Luftstalag14]

Don't have a problem with Mendes. Sure he looks out for his clients but he is also respected by the major clubs and generally does not play them against eachother like Raiola for example.

We may be forced to give Balde a chance earlier than anticipated, but we don't have the overbooking at LB for this to be a hinderance.

He is not outstanding in the B but he is good. He has the technical aspects and speed to adapt to the first team where he will have better team mates and better pitches. I've read coaches say that his issue is switching off at times which is something most young players have, and especially at a lower level where you do not have the intensity or pressure to always keep focused.

Better pitches?

 

[Porque]

Better pitches?

Some of the turfs in SegundaB are artificial (Cornella in Copa) and others are less kept and play slower.

The Cryuff stadium is a dream though. Perfect for the home games.

 

[Prodi]

Rip Balde.

The youth squad, who also ends his contract in 2022 although he has two more options, will start on Monday with Bar?a B
In principle, he had to start with the first team, but this morning he was informed of the change of plans

Another surprise on the first team list is the absence of Alex Balde , who like Ilaix Moriba also ends his contract in 2022. The 18-year-old left-back will start the preseason on Monday with Bar?a B when he was called to be an alternative in the first team to take over from Jordi Alba in the left-handed lane of the defense. Especially after the departure of Junior Firpo, who has been traded to Leeds United from the Premier League this week.

The Bar?a club was tracking the market in search of an opportunity. The priority was a profile with experience and that was a real alternative to Jordi Alba, who could compete with the side of L'Hospitalet del Llobregat. Despite this, and given the critical economic situation that the entity is experiencing, Balde presented himself as the home resource. He is a player with exceptional potential and an international Under-19 with Spain. In him many hopes are placed, but it seems that from the beginning Koeman prefers that he continue to grow and gain experience in the subsidiary, which will begin its preseason on Monday.

Last minute change
The footballer had been preparing all summer to reach the top of the preseason. In fact, at the end of last season his environment met with Mateu Alemany and Ramon Planes and they assured him that he would start the preseason with the first team. Finally, this morning, when he was just preparing everything necessary to present himself for the PCR tests on Saturday, he received a call that confirmed that for the moment he would start the course in dynamics Bar?a B and that he had to join on Monday under the orders of Sergi Barjuan .

From the outset, it could be speculated that at the end of the contract in 2022 there could be a case similar to that of Ilaix Moriba . But this time, Balde has signed two more optional years.

https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futb...ausente-del-filial-en-la-lista-de-koeman.html

 

[Porque]

Very odd. Club must of caught whiff of counter offers from other clubs for Balde and Ilaix and are being firm about the policy.

Renew or be left out. Wonder if they will be so firm on Robert and Dembele.

 

[Joan]

Very odd. Club must of caught whiff of counter offers from other clubs for Balde and Ilaix and are being firm about the policy.

Renew or be left out. Wonder if they will be so firm on Robert and Dembele.

No, might break Dembele's leg.

 

[DonAK]

Very odd. Club must of caught whiff of counter offers from other clubs for Balde and Ilaix and are being firm about the policy.

Renew or be left out. Wonder if they will be so firm on Robert and Dembele.

Don't think Balde is a priority at the moment though. We can trigger a two year option until 2024 as the article suggest.

Think he might still be called up for the early pre-season games while working out with Barca B. Neither Alba nor Emerson will be available soon and we surely won't go with only Dest and Sergi Roberto(sigh) as our FB options until they're back.

 

[Andresito]

Don't think Balde is a priority at the moment though. We can trigger a two year option until 2024 as the article suggest.

Think he might still be called up for the early pre-season games while working out with Barca B. Neither Alba nor Emerson will be available soon and we surely won't go with only Dest and Sergi Roberto(sigh) as our FB options until they're back.

Isn't Dest participating in the Gold Cup?

 

[Porque]

Don't think Balde is a priority at the moment though. We can trigger a two year option until 2024 as the article suggest.

Think he might still be called up for the early pre-season games while working out with Barca B. Neither Alba nor Emerson will be available soon and we surely won't go with only Dest and Sergi Roberto(sigh) as our FB options until they're back.

Unless there is a contractual issue I don't see why he wouldn't participate in the initial phase of the pre-season atleast.

Maybe the 2 additional years come with a wage increase the board currently oppose and want re-negotiated, or maybe the 2 additional years Balde's agency re contesting the legitimacy of. Either way, imo points to their being a hitch somewhere. Especially with the timing being the same as Ilaix.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Unless there is a contractual issue I don't see why he wouldn't participate in the initial phase of the pre-season atleast.

Maybe the 2 additional years come with a wage increase the board currently oppose and want re-negotiated, or maybe the 2 additional years Balde's agency re contesting the legitimacy of. Either way, imo points to their being a hitch somewhere. Especially with the timing being the same as Ilaix.

Maybe it is just Sergi Barjuan thinks he can make him a better LB if he had the full opportunity to work with him? And an old friend of his agrees with that?

 

[Porque]

But we're only talking about the first few weeks of pre-season until Koeman makes an assessment and returns the ones not ready to the B team.

It is normal to have added B team players as the squad will have less players with international players still on extended break.

In regards to LB, who is the alternative? Alba will start pre-season later and Firpo is sold. Dest will be at Gold Cup. So we will instead have someone out of position like Ramos Mingo which does not seem necessary.

 

[Luftstalag14]

Good point, contractual issues aside, the fact that we don't have a backup LB and yet we don't start Balde in the pre-season with the first team is not good planning at all.

 

[Porque]

The alternative LB in Barcelona B is Mika Marmol btw, who is also not starting pre-season with the first team. He is pretty decent, better defensively than Balde and also can play CB.

 

[jamrock]

Shouldn't definitely be involved in the pre season