History tells that Barça’s success has always been bolstered by playmaking full-backs. We’ve had absolute ballers like Dani Alves, Eric Abidal, Jordi Alba, etc. However, Barça has failed to find reliable full-backs, particularly on the left side. Although Balde has proven to be a crucial player over the past couple of years, some issues still linger as the season progresses. Let’s discuss:
Alejandro Balde continues his mediocre form: Does he need competition?
Balde’s First Season showcased his talent and prowess
The La Masia talent Alejandro Balde made a great start for Barça back in 2021. The speedy full-back replaced the injured Jordi Alba and delivered some brilliant performances. It took him only a few months to become a starter. By the start of the 22/23 season, Balde had gained decent recognition across Europe.
The youngster had done exceptionally well, and Xavi established him as the first choice left back over Alba. However, Balde has not been the same after his 2023 hamstring injury. While he has shown decent performances, these are far from the top level required at Barça.
Barça can’t settle for mediocrity; Balde must offer more
Defensively, Balde has shown some solid performances. He’s quick and can make efficient recoveries. He is a ball-carrying player and carries the ball nicely from the left flank. But, I think he lacks positional intelligence while making offensive runs. His decision-making is a hit or miss. With Raphinha’s drifting runs inside the box, Balde must create chances through his width and offer more than just crosses.
Signing another left-back can also be a great move by Barça. It will add healthy competition for the spot and trigger better performances from players, who’ll be now fighting to keep their spots.
Prime Jordi Alba: A brilliant example to follow
Alba’s offensive gameplay serves as an excellent example for young Balde. The iconic Alba-Messi link is a brilliant example as Alba used to find the cutting-back pass which Leo almost always converted into a goal. While Balde is a different type of player, he can take notes from the perfectly timed runs of Alba and use his own potential to make himself a speedy attacking menace for defenders. Here’s a comparison between the offensive stats of Alba and Balde:
The comparison chart shows a clear difference in the attacking prowess of both left backs.
Balde must collaborate closely with the manager and coaching staff to refine his game. He has the potential to develop as a world-class left back and is young enough to play for a long time at Barca. At just 21 years of age, Balde has still enough time to develop his attacking attributes through hard work and dedication.
We all want to witness Balde making some scintillating offensive runs with full confidence, dazzling the Camp Nou audience.
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