Why Man Utd could regret a move for Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde

With all due respect to Hull City, few football fans would have expected them to walk away from Manchester United’s Premier League opener with all three points on Saturday.

Yet the Tigers produced a determined performance and battled throughout the contest, something Michael Carrick acknowledged after the final whistle. For United, it was a sobering reminder that there is still plenty of work to be done.

Hull defeat could be exactly what Man Utd needed

Manchester United remain very much a work in progress under Carrick, who took charge following the departure of Ruben Amorim. There had been plenty of optimism surrounding the club after the former United captain stepped into the managerial role, with his players showing encouraging signs during his early spell in charge.

Saturday’s defeat, however, could prove to be a useful reality check.

Rather than allowing expectations to get ahead of themselves, the loss should remind everyone at Old Trafford that significant improvements are still required. With the transfer window remaining open, United must also be careful when deciding where to invest their money.

One area that appears to remain a priority is left-back.

Luke Shaw put in a respectable performance against Hull, but there are obvious concerns about relying on him throughout an entire season. At 31, and with the injury problems he has endured throughout his career, the England international needs to be managed carefully.

That makes finding a reliable competitor for Shaw particularly important.

Alejandro Balde being offered around Europe

United need a left-back capable of pushing Shaw for his place while also providing the manager with another tactical option. One player reportedly on their radar is Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde.

According to reports from Spain, Balde’s representative Jorge Mendes has been exploring potential opportunities for his client around Europe, with Manchester United among the clubs being linked with a possible move.

Speculation surrounding the 22-year-old intensified following Barcelona’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Elche on Sunday. Balde did not feature in that match, although it would be difficult to draw any firm conclusions from his absence.

If United were to make a serious move for Balde, however, the obvious question would be whether he represents good value for a club that cannot afford another expensive mistake.

Balde has great pace, but his final ball needs work

There is no questioning Balde’s athleticism.

The Barcelona defender possesses excellent pace and is capable of flying up and down the left flank, making him difficult for opposition defenders to contain when he has space to attack.

His passing numbers also provide some encouragement. Using last season’s figures as a sample, Balde recorded a 90.24% pass-completion rate in the final third of Champions League matches, while his overall accuracy reached 93.87% in the 2025/26 Copa del Rey.

However, his attacking output is where serious questions begin to emerge.

Balde frequently has the pace to reach the byline, but his delivery from those positions leaves plenty to be desired. He registered just eight successful crosses throughout the campaign compared with 28 unsuccessful attempts.

For a full-back expected to provide width and create opportunities, that is a significant weakness.

Joao Cancelo’s role raises questions

Perhaps even more concerning for United is the fact that Joao Cancelo, despite naturally operating on the right side, was often preferred by Hansi Flick at left-back.

That decision could be viewed as a worrying sign regarding Balde’s current level.

His creative numbers don’t exactly make a compelling case either. Balde managed just two successful through balls during the campaign, while his take-on statistics also leave something to be desired.

He attempted 79 take-ons and completed 41, which on the surface isn’t particularly alarming. However, none of those successful take-ons resulted in a chance being created by the Barcelona defender.

Even more striking is his ball-carrying output. Balde completed 304 carries but registered just one assist, highlighting the gap between his ability to progress the ball and his effectiveness in producing something at the end of those runs.

That is something United would need to address if they were to spend significant money on him.

Man Utd may have left their business too late

There are also concerns about Balde’s end product in front of goal.

He managed just three shots on target from 12 attempts across the campaign, which hardly suggests that scoring goals is currently one of his biggest strengths.

Defensively, there are some positives.

Balde won 30 of his 48 tackles, giving him a tackle success rate of around 62.5% overall, while his LaLiga figure stood at 65.71%. He also made 37 clearances during the season.

Those numbers demonstrate that there is a capable defender underneath the attacking shortcomings. Nevertheless, United are looking for players who can help them return to the top of English football and compete seriously in Europe.

Whether Balde is currently at that level is debatable.

Would Alejandro Balde represent good value?

The biggest issue could ultimately come down to the price.

Balde is reportedly valued at around €50 million, while his Barcelona contract runs until June 2028. That leaves the Catalan club in a strong negotiating position and means United would likely have to pay a substantial fee to prise him away.

For a club that has already spent heavily in recent transfer windows, committing another sizeable sum to a player who still has significant areas of his game to improve would represent a considerable gamble.

United also haven’t exactly given themselves much time to complete their remaining transfer business. With the window entering its final stages, the club could find itself under pressure to act quickly.

That is precisely when expensive mistakes can happen.

Balde has obvious qualities. His pace, ball-carrying ability and potential make him an intriguing option, particularly given United’s need for a long-term solution at left-back.

But potential alone shouldn’t be enough.

If Manchester United are serious about returning to the top, they need players capable of making an immediate impact rather than simply adding another expensive project to the squad.

A move for Alejandro Balde could work out — but there is enough evidence to suggest United should think very carefully before making the deal.