Barcelona loses Alejandro Balde for 4 weeks and Hansi Flick has two names to replace him

Barcelona suffered a setback on Wednesday (3) as left-back Alejandro Balde was ruled out for three to four weeks due to injury, according to journalist Javi Miguel. With the 20-year-old sidelined, coach Hansi Flick will turn to academy products Gerard Martín and Jofre Torrents to cover the position.

La Masia Options to Step In

Martín and Torrents both featured during Barça’s preseason and have already been included in La Liga squads this season.

• Gerard Martín, who made 42 appearances last year, is considered the more experienced option and was prioritized for first-team registration before the season began. He is expected to be Flick’s immediate choice.
• Jofre Torrents, just 18 years old, impressed during the club’s Asian tour. Though less experienced, he could be eased into matches from the bench as the coaching staff manage his integration carefully.

Barcelona’s Reduced Depth at Left-Back

Barcelona’s options at full-back have been thinned after summer departures:

• Álex Valle was sold to Como for €6 million, following an impressive loan spell in Italy.
• Héctor Fort, initially reluctant to leave, was loaned to Elche in La Liga 2 to gain more minutes and will return next season.

While Eric García can also fill in as a makeshift option, Flick is expected to rely primarily on Martín and Torrents during Balde’s absence.

Wider Injury Concerns

Balde joins Marc-André ter Stegen and Gavi on Barcelona’s injury list. Ter Stegen’s absence is less impactful given his current role as a reserve goalkeeper, but Gavi’s long-term injury continues to weigh heavily on Flick’s squad planning, with the coach considering further reliance on La Masia graduates.