Twelve minutes of football across 10 Barcelona matches has left Alejandro Balde weighing up a January move to Manchester United. The 23-year-old Spanish left-back would join a club where Luke Shaw is the only player registered in that position, and Shaw's latest injury forced manager Michael Carrick to field young centre-back Ayden Heaven on the left of the defence against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. United's hierarchy has admitted that failing to sign a defender in the summer was a mistake.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has confirmed that the superb form of Joao Cancelo and Xavi Espart has made it difficult for Balde to hold down a place. The Catalan club were already looking to sell him in the summer, but despite a phone call from Manchester United, his high transfer fee and wages prevented a deal, only adding to the pressure on the defender. "I would say in 2027 because it could be January, could be summer based on opportunities," transfer insider Fabrizio Romano said. His agent, Jorge Mendes, holds talks with Europe's leading clubs every week.
