La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly in talks with 19-year-old Spanish defensive sensation Alejandro Balde over a bumper new contract.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Barcelona will prioritise securing the long-term future of Alejandro Balde. The 19-year-old defensive sensation has two years left on his current deal, with the Blaugrana in talks over a bumper new contract.
Alejandro Balde is the latest sensational talent to emerge from Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy. The Spaniard started at CE Sant Gabriel before joining Espanyol several years ago. But he has made swift progress since joining Barcelona, rising through the ranks in the youth division before making his first-team debut last year.
The 19-year-old is now a regular for Barcelona, establishing himself as a pivotal figure under Xavi Hernandez. While Balde is not the undisputed first-choice left-back, he has still made an impression whenever he has taken to the pitch in the 2022/23 campaign.
The teenage prodigy has also chipped in with a few assists (three) in the 13 appearances he has made thus far for Barcelona this term. Balde’s progress has not gone unnoticed beyond Spain, with several European bigwigs setting their sights on him.
Recent reports linked the Spanish defensive sensation with Juventus. And the report by SPORT claims that several Premier League clubs are also interested in signing Balde. That is hardly surprising, considering Chelsea weighed up signing him in the summer transfer window. But Barcelona will not let Balde leave anytime soon.
Balde’s contract will run out on June 30, 2024, and he has a release clause worth €500 million. But Barcelona will not take any chances with the player’s future. The Catalan giants are thus looking to tie the 19-year-old to a new long-term contract while bolstering his wages. At the same time, Barcelona will likely hike Balde’s exit clause to protect him further.
The Blaugrana and the player’s representatives are in talks over a new contract, and discussions are progressing well. Securing Balde’s future is a priority for Barcelona, and it will be interesting to see if they can agree to a new deal with him in the coming weeks. With Balde becoming a regular this season, he should ideally commit his future to Barcelona.
