Barcelona might look to re-sign 28-year-old former La Masia ace Alejandro Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen next year.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Alejandro Grimaldo is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The reigning La Liga champions are scouring the market for a left-back ahead of the 2024 summer transfer window. And the 28-year-old Bayer Leverkusen defender has emerged as a viable target.
Alejandro Grimaldo is a native of Valencia and began his youth career at his hometown club. But the Spaniard ended his youth career at FC Barcelona after joining La Masia as a 13-year-old in July 2008. But after rapidly rising through the ranks at the Catalan outfit, he unsuccessfully waited for his first-team breakthrough.
But it never came, and a frustrated Grimaldo moved to Portugal in January 2016, with Benfica snapping him up. The move worked out well for all parties involved, with the 28-year-old becoming one of the best left-backs in Europe. And he enjoyed a fruitful seven-and-a-half-year stint with the Portuguese giants.
But Grimaldo’s spell with Benfica ended this past summer, as he departed as a free agent. Bayer Leverkusen secured his services in a Bosman move. The Spanish defender has started his stint well, chipping in with two goals and four assists in nine appearances thus far. And his progress has captured the attention of his former club Barcelona.
The Catalan giants have one of the best young full-backs in the world, with Alejandro Balde going from strength to strength. But Marcos Alonso faces an uncertain future at the Catalan club, with recent reports linking him with La Liga outfits. The reigning La Liga champions have thus shown interest in several left-backs, with Grimaldo emerging as a viable target.
The 28-year-old former La Masia ace can arrive as a solid alternative to Balde. With Xavi Hernandez believing in rotating players through a busy season, having two top-class left-backs will help. In addition, Balde can learn a lot from Grimaldo, who has a wealth of experience across Europe.
But it is unclear if Bayer Leverkusen will entertain any bids for Grimaldo, who has become a pivotal figure for the Bundesliga club. It will also be interesting to see if Barcelona’s interest turns the Spaniard’s head next year.
