Manchester City ready €60m for top Barcelona defender

Manchester City is ready to spend €60m for top Barcelona defender as the Premier League side ramps up plans for a high-profile signing.

The Premier League champions are closely monitoring the situation of a La Masia‑bred full-back, with the Catalans no longer considering him completely off limits due to their financial reality.

City’s recruitment team view him as an ideal long-term solution for the left side of defence, perfectly suited to the physical and tactical demands of English football.

The player in question is Alejandro Balde, a 22-year-old academy graduate who has already established himself as Barcelona’s first-choice left-back when fully fit, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.

His blend of pace, power, and attacking intent has long attracted admiration from England, and his profile is seen at the Etihad as tailor‑made for an aggressive, possession‑dominant side.

Balde’s contract runs until 2028, which puts Barcelona in a strong negotiating position, but also makes him a potentially valuable asset if a major bid arrives.

Manchester City’s interest comes at a time when Barcelona have subtly shifted its internal stance on the defender.

While the club are not actively pushing him towards the exit, he is no longer categorised as completely “untouchable,” with senior figures willing to listen to very favourable proposals given the club’s ongoing financial pressures.

A fee in the region of a major marquee defender – around the 60 million euro bracket – is the kind of offer that could at least force a serious discussion in the offices at Montjuïc.

His agent, Jorge Mendes, has communicated to the hierarchy that his client is happy and not actively seeking a move, even as interest from England grows.

That leaves Manchester City in a familiar position: highly tempted by a dynamic, modern full-back, but needing to test both Barcelona’s finances and the player’s conviction if they are to prise a prized academy product away from Catalonia.