We have the impression of seeing him on the left flank of FC Barcelona for many years, but Alejandro Baldé is only 22 years old. However, he is truly part of the furniture on the Camp Nou side. A player from La Masia who has experienced a meteoric rise since his first steps with the A in 2021, he has however received some criticism in recent months. And for good reason, many observers believe that he has not really progressed and that he is stagnating a little, failing to improve and erase certain flaws in his game, mainly in the purely defensive aspect.
Generally speaking, the two flanks of the defense are considered to be FC Barcelona’s weak point this season. Both the Spaniard and Jules Koundé are regularly targeted by fans and the media, and it is no coincidence that Hansi Flik insisted so much on bringing in a full-back this winter. The management, aware of the team’s concerns, offered João Cancelo for a second adventure for the Portuguese in Catalan lands.
Farewell to the starting eleven?
And clearly, the arrival of the Portuguese puts Baldé in danger. This was not the case in the matches which followed his arrival, but the situation is changing. The Spanish full-back thus started on the bench during his team’s last two matches, against Girona, then against Levante on Sunday, not even coming into play during his team’s 3-0 victory. Hansi Flick thus bet on Cancelo, who was also excellent against the Granotas this weekend, even being voted man of the match. Suffice to say that if the Portuguese continues to perform at this level, Baldé has something to worry about.
This is also a big disavowal on the part of Hansi Flick, since he preferred to play Cancelo in a position that is not his rather than aligning Baldé. Also proof that for the moment, Koundé remains more important than the La Masia player in his eyes. This is the first time since his appearance with the first team that his starting status has been called into question to this extent. A possible relegation in the hierarchy which is very bad, since his logical ambition was to be at the World Cup with Spain. Already a little boycotted by the selection, not helped by enormous competition for this position, this should not help him convince Luis De La Fuente to call on him…
