Manchester United are tracking Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde ahead of the January transfer window as the Spanish club considers raising funds from the 22-year-old’s departure, according to reports in Mundo Deportivo and Metro. Balde has been limited to just 12 minutes of playing time for the reigning La Liga champions this season, falling behind Joao Cancelo and La Masia academy product Xavi Espart in head coach Hansi Flick’s plans.
### Transfer Context and Summer Stance
United explored potential additions to support Luke Shaw at left-back during the summer transfer window after missing out on Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall. While Newcastle refused to entertain offers and Hall ultimately signed a long-term contract at St James’ Park, United’s focus shifted to central midfield following Casemiro’s departure, bringing in Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba.
During the summer window, Balde did not consider leaving Barcelona. However, his current lack of action has changed the situation. According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona value the defender at approximately €40 million and are willing to listen to permanent offers in January to raise funds after failing to offload several other first-team players.
### Hansi Flick’s Assessment and Decisive January
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick acknowledged that the player is unhappy with his current lack of minutes following his key contributions over the previous two seasons. Speaking earlier this month, Flick stated that nobody expected Xavi Espart to perform at his current level and challenged Balde to bring out his best version amid fierce competition.
Flick has observed a stagnation in Balde’s performance levels both in matches and training sessions, which contributed to his demotion to third choice. With two years remaining on his contract at the Camp Nou running until 2028, the upcoming winter window presents a decisive moment for the defender to evaluate his long-term future and seek regular playing time. Rivals Liverpool have also been linked with the Spain international as his situation in Catalonia develops.