“I spoke with Alejandro Balde this morning. I told him that he is not at one hundred percent, that it is better for him to stay at home and that we will talk later,” revealed Hansi Flick before Barcelona’s debut against Elche. By then, the Barcelona lineup to start defending the title was already known: Xavi Espart, a midfielder converted into a right-back, would debut on the left side of the defense. Even that option seemed better than Balde. The bet did not fail. From Espart’s intensity, exactly what Flick demands from Balde, Barcelona’s first goal was born. And Espart, as if that were not enough, also assisted Fermín in Barcelona’s fifth goal at Martínez Valero.
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“Xavi Espart is in great shape and I love that a La Masia player is at this level. He doesn’t care where he plays. He knows what he has to do and with the ball he is fantastic,” said Flick. And, already with the rout in the bag, he spoke again about Balde: “I haven’t told Balde to leave. I spoke with him this morning, told him to think, and that we will talk again tomorrow.”
The fact is that Flick was not only blunt about Balde’s issue, but he also aired a private conversation. Considering Flick’s past at Barcelona, his excessive honesty was unusual. At least when it comes to exposing his players. On Saturday, at the press conference before traveling to Martínez Valero, it was already clear that he was not happy with Balde’s attitude. “It’s a difficult question because he has enormous quality and it’s important to know if a player is convinced to compete in his position. That’s what I want to see from all my players. I need everyone to be at one hundred percent, fully committed,” he had emphasized.
It was not the first time Flick hinted that he did not like Balde’s commitment. The message that became public at Martínez Valero had started in private: Espart had trained as a left-back in the last training session. Balde was upset by Flick’s reaction. And it was not because he was not going to count on him but because of when he communicated it or, at least, when it began to be made clear. According to the winger’s environment, Balde had turned down offers during the summer. “And now, with one week left before the market closes, this happens? They could have warned him earlier. His idea was to stay,” explain Balde’s close associates.
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Flick is not only convinced by Espart’s performance, but also by Pesquer’s and, of course, by the one who is expected to be a starter this season: Cancelo. The Portuguese is Barcelona’s latest reinforcement, which is still waiting to close the arrival of a center forward. “We will talk after this match about the number nine. I talk with Deco, we are very happy with the victory, but we will see during the week,” Flick stated. Raphinha, who played as a 9 and scored two goals, dodged the question about the possible signing of a center forward. “This is the president’s, Deco’s, and the coach’s business. We will do whatever they say with determination. We have enough capacity to play in any position,” emphasized the Brazilian.
Raphinha is not interested in talking about the 9, but he is about Barcelona’s match against Elche. “Whether it becomes more or less difficult depends on us. If we start at maximum level, it becomes easy for us. Elche did not make it easy, they play very well with the ball, but we did very well from the start.” Flick, for his part, added: “In the first half, we had to control the ball a bit more and that is what I want from the team. We kept a clean sheet and scored five goals. I love how they play football.”
Without Balde, nor a pure 9, Barcelona smiled against Elche. But not everything was joy for the blaugranas at Martínez Valero: Gavi left with pain in his right knee, the same one he broke in 2023. “It was in the tibia but it affected my knee. I am worried,” said Gavi. And Flick concluded: “We have to wait for the tests with Gavi. It is in the knee.”
