Manchester City Transfer News: Alejandro Balde reportedly rejected a move to join City and has reaffirmed his decision to remain with Barcelona
Alejandro Balde, the talented 19-year-old left-back of FC Barcelona, has firmly stated that his present and future lie with the Catalan club. The young defender, who will turn 20 on October 18, has turned down Manchester City’s interest in acquiring his services, displaying his unwavering commitment to the Blaugrana cause. Despite the substantially better financial incentives provided by the current European champions, Balde’s heart still belongs to his favorite team.
Manchester City’s financial strength may be greater than Barcelona’s, which is now coping with a precarious financial condition. Balde’s loyalty to his club, however, goes beyond financial concerns as he has grown into an essential member of the team’s left wing, even ousting seasoned great Jordi Alba from the starting lineup and unintentionally prompting Alba’s exit with only one year remaining on his contract.
The young player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has categorically said that Barcelona is the best environment for him to develop into one of the world’s best defenders, despite the fact that Balde is fully aware of the interest displayed by other illustrious clubs that have contacted him.
Balde is accustomed to the system and is aware of what Xavi Hernández expects from him. Additionally, he has greatly benefited from the tremendous advice and mentorship of seasoned veterans like Jordi Alba, Marc ter Stegen, Sergio Busquets and Robert Lewandowski.
As at now, Balde has reached an agreement with Barcelona to extend his contract. The financial details of the extension of Balde’s existing contract, which lasts through 2024, have already been determined, as was reported by Mundo Deportivo.
The club aspired to extend it until at least 2027, and ideally until 2028, but such details can be worked out later, keeping in mind the financial “fair play” regulations. Despite retaining his spot in the reserve team for now, the transition to the new contract will be seamless when the time is right.
Balde’s ambition is further fueled by his international debut for Spain during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He is focused on maintaining his development as a vital player for FC Barcelona as the upcoming season draws closer.
In the previous campaign, Balde showcased his potential, ranking seventh in terms of minutes played (3,110) across all competitions. Additionally, he made 44 appearances, starting 36 of them, and contributed six assists along with a memorable goal in the 1-4 victory against Espanyol, a match that sealed Barcelona’s La Liga title.
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