Barcelona Star Alejandro Balde Sidelined: Club Reveals Injury Details and Expected Recovery Timeline
Barcelona's first international break of the 2025–26 campaign got off to a disappointing start following confirmation that Alejandro Balde sustained a hamstring problem during training with the squad.
The Spanish club issued an official statement on Wednesday confirming that Balde had sustained a "minor injury" to his left hamstring, with his return timeline dependent on his rehabilitation progress.
Multiple Spanish media sources, including MARCA and Mundo Deportivo, suggest the 21-year-old defender will be unavailable for three to four weeks. Should this timeframe prove accurate, Balde would miss Barça's opening two home fixtures against Valencia and Getafe, along with their Champions League encounter with Newcastle United at St James' Park.
This marks another hamstring setback for Balde, who has previously struggled with similar issues. During the previous campaign, a left hamstring problem forced him to miss the Copa del Rey final and left him watching from the sidelines as Barcelona was eliminated by Inter Milan in the Champions League semifinals.
The season before, Balde suffered a right hamstring tear in January that required surgical intervention, keeping him out for the remaining five months of the 2023–24 campaign.
The injury represents a significant setback for Barcelona early in the campaign, but particularly devastating for Balde, whose promising teenage breakthrough has been repeatedly interrupted by fitness issues over the last two seasons.
The Catalan club will be relieved to have successfully registered Gerard Martín in the final days of the transfer window. The 23-year-old left-back appears to be the natural choice to deputize for Balde during his recovery period.
Academy graduate Jofre Torrents showed promise during preseason preparations and earned his first-team debut in Barcelona's season-opening match against Mallorca. The 18-year-old may see increased opportunities as Martín's understudy while Balde recovers.
Balde had featured in all three of Barcelona's matches this season. He will now focus on making another comeback and hopes this latest injury represents his final major setback, allowing him to fulfill his potential as one of the premier players in his position globally.