Hansi Flick revolutionizes Barça's wings

BarcelonaHansi Flick was understood when, on the eve of tonight's match between Elche and Barça (9:30 p.m., Movistar La Liga), he publicly questioned whether Alejandro Balde has enough conviction to earn his place at Barça. With just over a week left until the transfer market closes, the blaugrana coach opened the exit door for the full-back raised in the Sant Martí de Provençals neighborhood of Barcelona.But he wasn't the only one, because Flick also publicly invited Jules Kounde to leave the club. "We have been clear with these players. It's a club situation, we are making a lot of changes. We have to wait until the end of the market. It's normal when you decide you want new players: you think about how to make the team stronger," he stated.

For a long time, Balde's name has been on the list of Barcelona's transferable footballers, and Flick has left him out of the squad to travel to Elche for the league opener. In early May, this newspaper already reported the German coach's intentions of renewing a lane in which Joao Cancelo, who arrived on loan from Al-Hilal in the winter market, did not take long to snatch the position from the academy-trained footballer. Even then, with next season in mind, the German was clear that he wanted changes on the left defensive flank. One of the names that Barça was interested in, without ever completing the formalities, was Marc Cucurella.

The former defender, trained at La Masia, let himself be courted, but to turn an interest into a formal offer, a lot of work was needed beforehand and, above all, this signing was conditional on the departure of a Balde who, neither then nor this summer, has wanted to leave Barça. Cucurella would end up signing for Real Madrid in a lightning operation, but Balde, who has never fully convinced Flick and who experienced his best season (2022-23) under Xavi, already knows from his coach that the best option is to leave. With the German, he has never managed to have the regularity and level he displayed that season, in which he benched Jordi Alba.

Regarding Jules Kounde, the coach already made it clear on Wednesday during the Joan Gamper Trophy match that his starting right-back is Eric Garcia. Chosen by Flick himself as provisional second captain until the squad is finalized and the locker room renews its vows, the player from Martorell will be the right-back who will start today in the league opener at the Martínez Valero in Elche. Eric himself explained after the match against Al-Ahly of Egypt that Flick had informed him during preseason that he counted on him "as a full-back" this season.

The price for Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde

Whether Balde (under contract until 2028) or Kounde (2030) decide to stay, Flick will consider them in the rotation, but the sporting direction, with the coach's complicity, would view generating revenue from both players very favorably, as long as the offers are "convincing" in economic terms. Transfermarkt, a specialized portal and a benchmark for many clubs, values the Frenchman at 60 million euros and the Catalan at 50 million.

Manchester United is one of the clubs that has recently inquired about Balde's situation. Both Jorge Mendes, the academy footballer's representative, and Jonathan Kebe, the former Sevilla player's agent, have recently met with the Barcelona sporting direction led by Deco. Barça is willing to listen to offers for both starting from amounts ranging between 60 and 70 million euros.

Borussia Dortmund wants Héctor Fort

Héctor Fort is also awaiting the resolution of his future. The right-back, who grew up in the Les Corts neighborhood and debuted three seasons ago with Xavi, knows he doesn't have Flick's confidence. After 13 years at the club and with nearly fifty first-team appearances under his belt, he is awaiting the resolution of his future. He has a contract until 2029 and is valued by Transfermakt at a market value of 12 million euros. Barça, if they sell him, wants to get a sum between 15 and 20 million euros. A loan, however, is also not ruled out. Borussia Dortmund has been interested in the 20-year-old footballer for two seasons now. Toni Tapalovic, Flick's assistant, is the brother of Filip Tapalovic, assistant to the German team's coach Nico Kovac. The club has had good references for Fort for some time.

After reinforcing the attacking flanks with the arrivals of Antony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, Flick is also shaking up the full-backs. There are still market movements in a Barça that is already saying goodbye to Julián Álvarez, whom Atlético de Madrid continues to consider untransferable (at least, for Barça) and whom Diego Pablo Simeone has called up for this afternoon's match at the Metropolitano (5 PM) against Villarreal.