Barcelona are heading towards the start of the season with a significant problem at left-back, as Alejandro Balde’s fitness remains uncertain and Joao Cancelo’s possible return has yet to be resolved.
Cancelo is still negotiating over a move back to Barcelona, but the club cannot yet rely on Balde either. The Spain international has been unable to make a proper start to pre-season because of physical problems that have prevented him from training normally.
According to AS, those issues have kept Balde out of every pre-season fixture so far. He did not play a single minute in the friendly against Birmingham, nor in either of the two other trial matches organised by Hansi Flick during the build-up to the new campaign.
The lack of information surrounding Balde’s condition has made it difficult to establish the precise nature of the problem. It remains unclear whether he is dealing with a back issue caused by a hernia, an injury he has suffered in the past, or pain in the pubic area.
A problem in the pubic region would be regarded as more concerning, given the potential implications for his ability to train and play consistently. However, the uncertainty around the defender’s condition means there is no clear indication of when he might return to full activity.
Balde’s absence leaves Barcelona with an expected vulnerability in a position where the club is also waiting for clarity over Cancelo. The Portuguese full-back’s negotiations over a return are continuing, but no agreement has yet been confirmed.
The situation is particularly notable because Balde lost his regular starting place last season after Cancelo arrived at the club. He also did not feature at the World Cup.
Barcelona must therefore prepare for the new season without knowing whether Balde will be available to compete for the position or whether Cancelo will return to provide an alternative. For now, the left-back role remains one of the clearest unresolved issues in Flick’s squad.
Balde’s fitness has become a “baffling mystery” around Camp Nou, with his absence from all three pre-season matches offering no indication that he is ready to resume normal involvement. The club’s silence over whether the issue affects his back or pubic area has only increased the uncertainty as the start of the campaign approaches.
