Barcelona are “seriously considering” accepting a $54 million (€50 million) offer from Chelsea for one of their players, according to El Nacional, citing anonymous sources.
Alejandro Balde made his first professional football debut under Ronald Koeman but got his start in 2022/2023 under midfield legend and successor to sacked head coach Xavi Hernandez.
The youngster was an integral component of the Barca squad that won its first La Liga title in four years that season, and seemed to hold the left-back position to the point that he eliminated Jordi Alba, who was due to move on and join. Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.
The current crusade began in the same vein, but Balde has fought his way to the same way that had touted him as one of Barça’s most productive clients when he left La Masia.
Then, at the end of 2024, things went from bad to worse when the 20-year-old suffered an injury that required surgery late in the season.
With Marcos Alonso also sidelined by his own shots, the evolution has meant that Xavi has had to deploy right-back Joao Cancelo on the opposite flank.
Whenever necessary, Héctor Fort has also done a wonderful job betting out of position in an organization of homegrown players led by Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi who seem to be the future direction of the club.
While cash-strapped Barca would like to sell important players to balance the limits of financial fair play and return to the 1:1 rule, Chelsea are in a position to control the Catalans regarding Balde, according to El Nacional.
The west London club, co-owned by Todd Boehly, has submitted a $54 million offer, which is being “seriously considered” through chairman Joan Laporta.
Given Fort’s rise and the impressive form of Cancelo, whose loan from Manchester City is likely to become permanent, Barca are likely to combine tactics with Balde from a sporting point of view and enrich themselves in the process.