The left-back position was a problem for Barcelona through the second half of last season as Alejandro Balde was injured and Joao Cancelo was forced to play out of position to fill the void.
Back to full fitness in pre-season, the La Masia starlet was expected to return and own the position under Hansi Flick.
In fact, many saw him as a player who would develop into the manager’s biggest resource just like Alphonso Davies evolved under him at Bayern.
Close to halfway through the season, however, doubts have begun to creep in over whether Balde is the right candidate to take the left-back position forward as revealed by AS.
Defensive frailties
The Spanish outlet relays that Balde’s attacking prowess has never been in doubt and that the player has largely lived up to his tag as an offensive full-back.
However, he does have his frailties in defence and has often proven to be the weak-link at the back this season.
Balde’s defensive frailties a concern. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
While he is seen as a solid long-term option, the manager is suffering without the presence of a compensatory defensive left-back option especially to field for the big games where there can be serious threat down the flank.
Most recently, Chimy Avila was seen tormenting Balde on the left flank in the team’s most recent clash while one also remembers his collapse against Osasuna in the fateful game at El Sadar.
Balde’s lack of concentration has often been the undoing of Barcelona’s otherwise perfect high-defensive line this season. Unfortunately for the manager, both his backup options Gerard Martin and Hector Fort are not upgrades in any way.
As it stands, Barcelona do not see the left-back position to be an emergency. That, however, does not rule them out from making a defensive full-back investment in the near future should the opportunity arise.