Alejandro Balde
According to Diario SPORT, Barcelona have made positive strides in their quest to reach an agreement with Alejandro Balde over a new contract.
The young defender currently has a contract that expires at the end of next season. However, in light of his breakthrough in professional football, the Barcelona camp is determined to secure his long-term future by tying him down to a new contract.
As per the report, Barcelona are in the advanced stages of negotiations with Balde’s agent, Jorge Mendes. The agreement is ‘practically’ complete and the two parties are hoping to officiate it in the near future.
Balde was recently a subject of interest from various Premier League giants. But Barcelona have no intention to offload him anytime soon, with the new deal likely to extend the defender’s contract until 2027.
Balde’s new contract may also see him earn just as much as some of the other young stars in the team such as Ronald Araujo and Gavi. As for the release clause, Barça are likely to set it to around €500 million, making it almost impossible for interested parties to trigger his exit.
The idea around the Barcelona camp is to officiate Balde’s new contract before the end of the year. However, a lot could depend on the youngster’s potential involvement in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, knowing the player’s value could increase if he gets selected in Spain’s final squad.
There have been negotiations between Barcelona and Jorge Mendes in the past, but it has been established that the renewal may heavily depend on the player’s fate ahead of the World Cup.
Balde, for his part, is happy with his life in Barcelona and wants to continue his development. The youngster has become the club’s number-one choice at left-back, following Jordi Alba’s rapid fall from grace. Balde could consolidate his position as the main left-back if he can continue his performance in the years to come.
[Source: barcauniversal.com]