Mateu Alemany is focusing on a Barcelona player

Atlético de Madrid aims to sign a left-back in the upcoming winter transfer market, and one of the names on the list of targets is Alejandro Balde, a discard from FC Barcelona.

According to the newspaper Marca, the rojiblanca management has identified the left flank as a position that must be reinforced to compete directly with Álex Grimaldo, taking advantage of the determination of the Hispano-Dominican player to leave FC Barcelona due to his evident loss of prominence under Hansi Flick.

Ostracism at the Metropolitano rushes Balde's decision

Flick’s technical management in the recent blue victory by 1-2 at the Cívitas Metropolitano on November 8 confirmed Balde’s secondary role in the squad. The wing-back was on the bench and did not play a single minute in a match where the German coach preferred to reshape his defensive setup by introducing Frenkie de Jong as an emergency right-back and repositioning the defense with Gerard Martín and Eric Garcia, while other names like Gabriel Jesus also did not participate.

This situation confirms the reflections that Flick shared at the end of October when he admitted on RTVE that the left-back needed to regain confidence to meet the levels of pressing and attacking depth required by his tactical system. Upon realizing that he is not part of the immediate plans of the coaching staff, the player has asked his representatives to facilitate his departure in the winter market to avoid hindering his professional development.

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Deco's roadmap and Diego Simeone's tactical fit

The sporting scenario places Deco in front of a strategic negotiation before the year ends. With the club evaluating the economic margin to restructure its flanks, the sale or loan with an obligation to buy of Balde would free up a key salary mass and allow for the entry of a capital gain to compensate for their signing plans. Meanwhile, Diego Pablo Simeone seeks to equip the left flank of Atlético de Madrid with a striding profile, speed in recovery, and aggression on the wing to manage Grimaldo in the second half of the season, where the Colchonero team will compete in LaLiga and the knockout phase of Europe.

The representatives of Alejandro Balde and the leadership of Atlético de Madrid will intensify exploratory talks during the first weeks of December 2026. If FC Barcelona agrees to negotiate his departure with a direct rival in the domestic championship, Alejandro Balde will wear the red-and-white jersey at the start of January 2027.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mateu Alemany se fija en un jugador del Barcelona