It is rather undeniable that the expectations at FC Barcelona remain as high as always. Players that are simply not good enough do not retain the confidence of neither the club nor the management. However, at times it is about something much more than a lack of skill.
Certain players end up not displaying their full potential due to reasons besides physical inability. Confidence and mental health are arguably just as important for footballers as their external development.
One Barcelona player that does continue to struggle for whatever reason is Alejandro Balde. The Spanish left-back exploded onto the scene for Barça last season in their La Liga winning campaign. Arguably even the breakout star of the Spanish season during that campaign, his rise to the top was meteoric.
By dethroning Jordi Alba to become the Barcelona starter at left-back, Balde managed something most before him could not. His incredible pace, sharp passes and confidence to take players on were traits that made him uniquely dangerous.
However, the ongoing 2023/24 season has not seen the same Balde don the Blaugrana colors. The Spaniard has lacked something, and as SPORT reports, it is not a physical absence of skill or fitness.
In fact, the main information provided by SPORT states that the main problem with Balde is his mentality. It elaborates further by stating that the Spaniard is reportedly unable to keep his focus during games. This typically can lead to lapses of judgment and an inability to remain consistent.
Moreover, the information provided suggests that Balde is not even among the competitive of players at Barcelona. While others in the squad seem to have that drive and hunger in them, Balde does not seem as motivated and competitive.
However, Barcelona are not that worried. As per the report, La Blaugrana believe that the issues with Balde can be resolved with time. Given his age of just 19, he still has many years ahead of him and Barcelona are confident they can help him regain his best version.
On the other hand, Balde is definitely losing prominence within the team. The occasional option of Marcos Alonso is now present, and Joao Cancelo is definitely gaining fans because of his own near-flawless performance at left-back against FC Porto. As such, the young Spaniard will need to regain Xavi’s trust as soon as possible.
