Why hasn't Alejandro Balde played in Barcelona's preseason?

Balde hasn't played a single minute due to physical issues that have prevented him from training normally, and the exact nature of the injury has not been publicly confirmed.

When could Balde return to the pitch?

Coach Hansi Flick has expressed hope that he'll give him minutes on Saturday at the triangular tournament in Udine.

Who is Joao Cancelo and what is his situation at Barcelona?

Joao Cancelo is a player who joined Barcelona last season and took over Balde's position. He is currently still negotiating his return to the club.

How was Balde's last season under Flick?

According to sources, Balde's first season under Hansi Flick was more than solid, although he lost his place in the team after Cancelo's arrival.

Football

Barcelona Faces New Season with a Hole at Left Back

N.G. · Prije 2h | 2 min

Alejandro Balde hasn't played a single minute in preseason due to physical issues, and coach Hansi Flick hopes he'll feature at the tournament in Udine.

Summary

Barcelona has a problem at left back because Alejandro Balde hasn't played in preseason due to physical issues.
Joao Cancelo, who displaced Balde from the team last season, is still negotiating his return.
Coach Flick hopes Balde will play on Saturday at the tournament in Udine.
The exact nature of Balde's issues is unknown, with speculation ranging from a herniated disc to groin pain.

Barcelona enters the new season with a serious problem at left back. While Joao Cancelo is still negotiating his return to the club, Alejandro Balde has failed to find his rhythm as physical issues have prevented him from training normally throughout the preseason.

According to Spanish outlet AS, Balde's problems have been so severe that he hasn't played a single minute. He missed the friendly against Birmingham as well as the two trial matches Hansi Flick's side played during preparations. The secrecy surrounding his condition makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly what's wrong.

Mysterious Injury and Missed Opportunity

Possible causes of the issues include back pain stemming from a herniated disc, an injury he's already had, or groin pain, which would be an even more concerning option. On paper, the preseason offered Balde the perfect chance to reclaim his spot in the starting lineup and convince Flick that he belongs in the team. The German coach repeatedly emphasized last season that Balde must raise his level of play because he possesses the necessary quality.

Balde lost his place in the team last season after Cancelo's arrival and also missed out on the World Cup. However, his first season under Flick's leadership was more than solid.

Flick Hopes for Minutes in Udine

At the end of the camp in England, when asked about the left back's condition, Flick pointed to steady progress, saying the defender is improving day by day. The coach added that he hopes to give Balde some minutes on Saturday when Barcelona faces the hosts and Nottingham Forest in a triangular tournament in Udine.

The tournament in Udine could thus be a crucial moment for Balde's return and a chance to show Flick he's ready for the start of the season, while Barcelona simultaneously tries to resolve the Cancelo situation.