AC Milan are eyeing a €40 million bid for a Barcelona defender as the Italian club looks to strengthen their defensive options.
The summer transfer window is reaching its dramatic climax, and European powerhouses are staying on high alert as prominent intermediaries market high-profile talents across top leagues.
At FC Barcelona, internal squad dynamics and tactical retooling under head coach Hansi Flick have opened up unexpected exit possibilities for long-standing first-team figures.
While Catalonia’s leadership remains heavily focused on fine-tuning their squad depth and adhering to strict La Liga financial constraints, agent networks are actively testing the waters in Italy.
According to updates from transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, super-agent Jorge Mendes recently offered the defender to AC Milan as he scans the market for prospective landing spots.
The 22-year-old Spanish international left-back at the center of the potential transfer operation is Alejandro Balde.
While Balde was previously regarded as an untouchable long-term pillar on Barcelona’s left flank, the permanent arrival of João Cancelo and tactical reconsiderations under Flick have made his starting status far less assured than in previous campaigns.
Barcelona currently value their La Masia graduate at over €40 million, fully aware that selling a pure academy product would provide a pure profit injection for their financial accounts.
However, executing a deal of this magnitude poses significant hurdles for the Italian giants.
AC Milan are not presently planning an outlay of that size for the position, making a formal bid unlikely unless market parameters shift dramatically before deadline day.
Furthermore, Balde himself remains intent on staying at Spotify Camp Nou to fight for his place in Flick’s line-up.
Unless Barcelona explicitly communicate that a sale is mandatory for economic survival, the defender prefers to remain in Catalonia.
Manchester United have also made preliminary enquiries with Mendes, keeping Balde’s situation as one of the key sagas to watch as the window closes.
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