Hansi Flick revolutionizes Barça's wings

BarcelonaHansi Flick was understood completely when, on the eve of the duel between Elche and Barça tonight (9:30 PM, Movistar La Liga), he publicly questioned whether Alejandro Balde has enough conviction to earn his place at Barça. A little over a week before the transfer market closes, the blaugrana coach opened the exit door for the full-back who grew up in the Barcelona neighborhood of Sant Martí de Provençals. But he wasn't the only one, because Flick also publicly invited Jules Kounde to leave the ship. "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.

Balde's name has been on Barça's list of transferable footballers for some time. At the beginning of May, this newspaper already reported on the German coach's intentions to renew a wing where Joao Cancelo, who arrived on loan from Al-Hilal in the winter market, quickly snatched the position from the academy-trained player. Even then, with next season in mind, the German was clear that he wanted changes on the left flank of the defense. One of the names that Barça was interested in, without ever going through 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 had to be done beforehand and, above all, this signing was dependent on the departure of 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 quite convinced Flick and who had 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 consistency and level he showed that season, when 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 the provisional second captain until the squad is finalized and the locker room renews its votes, 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 communicated to him during preseason that this season he counted on him "as a right-back".

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 look favorably upon making a profit from both footballers, provided there are "convincing" offers in economic terms. Transfermarkt, a specialized portal and a reference for many clubs, values the Frenchman at 60 million euros and the Catalan at 50 million euros.

Manchester United is one of the clubs that has recently inquired about Balde's situation. Both Jorge Mendes, the academy player'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 between 60 and 70 million euros.

Borussia Dortmund wants Héctor Fort

Héctor Fort is also awaiting the resolution of his future. The right-back, raised in the Les Corts neighborhood and who debuted three seasons ago under Xavi, knows he doesn't have Flick's confidence. After 13 years at the club and with almost fifty matches of experience at the elite level, 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 transfer him, wants to get a sum between 15 and 20 million euros. A loan, however, is not ruled out either. 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 offensive wings with the arrival of Antony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, Flick is also shaking up the full-backs. There are still market movements at Barça, which 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 p.m.) against Villarreal.