Barcelona looking to retain two out of their three left-backs for next season – report

A recent report from Diario SPORT has offered an update on Barcelona’s policy in the left-back unit.

Widely considered one of the major problem areas in the summer, it appears Barcelona have been able to gain some clarity, as far as the future of the left-back department is concerned.

Indeed, the club have been boosted by the breakthrough of youngster Alejandro Balde. The young left-back has emerged as one of the rising stars in La Liga, thanks to a series of consistent performances in the league, including in the most recent matchup against Valencia.

In light of Balde’s brilliance, Barcelona now aim to make him the first-choice left-back in the years to come. But as far as the other options are concerned, there is still a sense of uncertainty.

Jordi Alba, in particular, has fallen out of favour at Camp Nou and is not considered a major part of Xavi’s plans. The veteran has struggled to offer consistency to the table, which, in turn, has allowed Balde to achieve a rapid rise to prominence.

With Alba struggling to offer any quality to the table, Barcelona intend to offload him in the near future.

Meanwhile, in the case of Marcos Alonso, the club are convinced by his performances since the start of the season. His ability to operate as a utility man, coupled with his experience and composure make him an important asset for Xavi.

Therefore, Barcelona are looking to renew the deal for Alonso. The former Chelsea star’s current deal at Camp Nou expires at the end of the season, but the new deal could see him remain in Catalonia at least until 2024.