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Alejandro Balde's early cameo in El Clásico didn't appear to signal the beginning of a comeback for the left back at Barcelona.
Balde was brought on after promising academy product Xavi Espart suffered an ankle injury that will keep him sidelined for the next two months. Barcelona's No. 3 had roughly an hour to prove his worth, but his return to the bench over the weekend indicated that Hansi Flick remained unconvinced.
Flick maintained that he still holds a "tremendous amount of respect" for the player, and there's no indication of any rift between the two despite Balde's limited playing time this season (125 minutes across all competitions).
MARCA report that the club is eyeing a "top-quality defender" in the winter window, and Balde is likely to be the first name on the transfer list given his market value and the interest he would attract.
Here are five clubs that could move for the Barcelona left back in January, ranked by suitability and likelihood.
5. AC Milan
AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale was quickly vindicated for standing firm behind manager Ruben Amorim, as the former Manchester United boss guided the Rossoneri to a 3–1 win in the Derby della Madonnina, keeping them within striking range of Serie A's frontrunners.
Amorim has shown signs of tactical flexibility in Lombardy, experimenting with a back four. The rigid approach is gone, and Milan may look to strengthen their left side regardless of the formation Amorim settles on.
Milan have options, including teenage prospect Sankhoun Diawara, but there could still be room for Balde to revive his career at San Siro.
That said, a permanent deal in January seems unlikely for Milan. A loan with an option to buy is more realistic, though Barça may be reluctant to agree to that if they need to raise funds.
4. Chelsea
Chelsea tend to crop up in transfer conversations whenever a notable player becomes available, and while the club moved to reinforce their left flank in the summer, many remain skeptical about Xabi Alonso's current options in that area.
Alonso, much like Amorim at Milan, is rotating between a back three and a back four. Jorrel Hato is progressing well in his second season at the club, and fans may need to be patient before summer signings Pep Chavarría and the versatile Marco Palestra display the quality that attracted Chelsea in the first place.
Balde could represent an opportunistic signing that BlueCo find hard to pass up, but the Blues appear to have more urgent priorities heading into January.
3. Liverpool
There were expectations that Andoni Iraola would help Milos Kerkez recapture the form he had shown at Bournemouth, where he was considered one of the Premier League's standout left backs.
Kerkez has been erratic for much of his Liverpool tenure so far, and Iraola's arrival on Merseyside has done little to settle the Hungarian. He continues to offer minimal threat going forward and remains unreliable defensively.
Kostas Tsimikas serves as backup, picking up more minutes than he likely anticipated upon returning to Anfield after spending last season on loan at Roma.
This is a position Liverpool should look to address in 2027, and taking a chance on Balde might not be a bad move. The Spaniard is an exceptional athlete who, at his peak in Catalonia, drew comparisons to Jordi Alba with his attacking contributions.
2. Roma
Like Milan, Roma could look into a loan arrangement for Balde this winter. While Barcelona might be open to letting the Spaniard leave temporarily for the second half of the season, they would likely insist on a mandatory rather than optional purchase clause.
Gian Piero Gasperini's Giallorossi are in contention for the Scudetto, but their 3–2 loss at Manchester United exposed the squad's weaknesses. Gasperini was missing key players including Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Paulo Dybala at Old Trafford, and Roma fell apart after surging into a two-goal lead within 18 minutes.
They also lacked width, particularly after Devyne Rensch was forced off through injury. Young substitute Emanuele Lulli showed plenty of energy but little else.
Wesley could shift to the right if Roma pursue Balde, who would likely thrive under the demanding Gasperini. It's a system that places enormous physical demands on players, but the Roma manager has a proven ability to breathe new life into struggling careers.
1. Manchester United
Man Utd appeared to abandon their pursuit of a left back in the summer once it became evident that Lewis Hall would not be departing Newcastle United.
The Red Devils were linked with several candidates, including Balde, but chose not to follow through. Consequently, Michael Carrick has been left with limited options, with Luke Shaw predictably struggling with fitness problems at the start of the new campaign.
Carrick has therefore been forced into makeshift solutions, frequently deploying Diogo Dalot on his less favored side as a workaround. Ayden Heaven and Noussair Mazraoui have also filled the role, but Shaw's absence remains a notable problem.
This Manchester United side lacks tactical complexity, with Carrick's ability to establish balance in possession having been central to their improvement in the second half of last season. Shaw's fitness and the left-footed drive he provided from his natural position brought stability to the team.
Without him, things are far more disjointed, and they need a left-footed option in reserve. The appeal of a big name will attract interest, but Old Trafford may not be the ideal setting for Balde to reignite his career.