FC Barcelona have struggled for years to find quality replacements for their iconic full-backs. Gone are the golden days of Éric Abidal and Jordi Alba on the left wing, and Dani Alves on the right. Since then, the club has embarked on a long and costly search to find quality full-backs.
Barça has made a significant financial effort to find new talent during the last seasons but results have not always been as expected. Players of the caliber of Marc Cucurella and Alejandro Grimaldo, who were trained at La Masia, left the club. They were not given any minutes or opportunities and are now considered among the best in the world in their position.
Alejandro Balde, master of the left wing
Currently, the Catalans seem to have found stability in these positions with Alejandro Balde and Jules Koundé. Balde has established himself on the left flank, standing out for his offensive ability and speed. Koundé has assumed the role of right back, providing solidity and defensive quality. Despite this success, criticism persists regarding the management of talents from the youth team.
To avoid repeating the story of players like Cucurella and Grimaldo, Barça have turned their attention to Álex Valle. This young left-back, only 20 years old, is on loan to Celtic Glasgow, where he has shown outstanding performances.
Valle has caught the eye of Hansi Flick's coaching staff thanks to his ability to join in attack and his defensive security. He has played in both the domestic league and the Champions League for the Scottish team. Valle has earned a starting place and is proving his worth in a highly competitive environment.
Barcelona are keeping a close eye on his development, aware of the need to have a quality replacement for Balde. If Valle continues to excel, he is likely to return to the club next season to compete for a place in the first team. This would strengthen the left-back position and give Barça a solid option from its youth system. And this is a strategy that has proven to be profitable and adds value to the club's sporting project.
Looking ahead, Laporta and Flick's Barça seem determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Under Alex Valle, the intention is to ensure that home-grown talents can shine in the first team, as Balde and others have done before him.