ONE MONTH OUT: ALEJANDRO BALDE FACES FOUR WEEKS SIDELINED; KOUNDE RETURN DATE REMAINS "UNKNOWN."
Champions League Alert: Get the latest on Kounde and Balde's injuries as Barcelona prepare for a massive tie against Newcastle.
Barcelona’s season just took a hit, actually, a double one after a rough Copa del Rey semi-final with Atletico Madrid. Both Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde are now sidelined with hamstring injuries from Tuesday night’s game. And the worst part? Balde came on to replace the injured Kounde, only to end up hurting himself and heading straight to the treatment room before the match even ended at Camp Nou.
Losing both defenders in one night is a nightmare for Barca, especially since they’re out of the cup now, too.
Wednesday brought some clarity, but not much comfort. The club ran medical tests in the morning and confirmed the damage. Kounde’s out with a mid-biceps femoris injury in his left hamstring; the club won’t say exactly how long he’ll be gone. “His recovery will dictate his return to action,” the statement said. Not exactly reassuring.
Balde’s situation is a bit clearer, but still bad news. The young left-back, who brings real energy to Barca’s attack, is facing about four weeks out with an injury to his distal biceps femoris. That’s a full month on the sidelines, right when the team needs him most. Flick now has to shuffle his defence for a crucial stretch of games, both in La Liga and Europe.
Tuesday night at Camp Nou was pure chaos. Kounde lasted only 13 minutes before limping off, forcing an early shake-up. Balde came in and sparked some hope, but his night ended in the 71st minute with another forced change, with Ronald Araujo stepping in. Two reliable defenders lost in a single match leave Barca exposed at the back, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
The timing stings. Barcelona are in the thick of a packed schedule, and losing Balde’s speed and Kounde’s adaptability is a blow. Flick now faces the run-in without two of his main guys, a scenario he definitely didn’t want.
Still, life at the training ground rolls on. The rest of the squad were back on the pitch on Wednesday for recovery work. The mood was serious but determined. Players who faced Atletico hit the gym, while others like Gavi, Eric Garcia, and Marc Casado trained outside, working their way back to full fitness. Even Robert Lewandowski joined in, though with extra care after his recent facial injury.
Up next is Athletic Club in La Liga, and then Newcastle United in the Champions League. The pressure’s on. Barça has to find a way to cope without Kounde and Balde, because the title race isn’t going to wait for anybody.
REVEALED: THE FIVE TOTTENHAM PLAYERS BARCELONA WANT IF SPURS DROP TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Barcelona scouts identified Xavi Simons, Lucas Bergvall, Van de Ven, Romero, and Porro as potential summer transfer targets.
Barcelona’s got its eye on Tottenham, and if Spurs end up dropping out of the Premier League, things could get wild. You can see why there’s talk that Barcelona’s ready to swoop in and scoop up some of Tottenham’s top talent on the cheap, especially since Tottenham’s facing the possibility of relegation. It’s a mess in North London right now, and Barcelona’s not the only big club watching closely.
Diario SPORT says Barcelona is scouting at least five of Tottenham’s key players. If Spurs really do go down, suddenly a bunch of their stars could be up for grabs at knockdown prices. And with Barcelona still juggling its finances, bargain deals like these are tough for it to pass up.
Xavi Simons is one they’re watching closely. He came up through La Masia, so bringing him back would feel like coming home, plus he’d add plenty of flair and versatility in midfield. Lucas Bergvall’s interesting, too; he almost joined Barcelona before picking Spurs. Injuries and lack of minutes have slowed him down in London, but Barcelona hasn’t stopped believing he’s got huge potential. They could finally land him after missing out on him a couple of years ago.
In defence, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are high on Barca’s wish list. Both guys have proven themselves in the Premier League, and adding them would instantly boost Barcelona’s options at the back. Van de Ven stands out for his speed and ability to play from deep; he’d be a great partner for Pau Cubarsi, and together they could form one of Europe’s most balanced defensive duos.
Pedro Porro’s name is also in the mix. He’d fit right into Barcelona’s attacking style at right-back, but whether they go for him depends on what happens with Jules Kounde. If Barcelona decides to sell Kounde to help balance the books, Porro’s seen as the go-to replacement to deliver attacking runs from defence, which Hansi Flick wants.
All this talk hangs on how Tottenham finishes the season. There are only four Premier League games left, and if Spurs manage to stay up, these deals get way trickier. If they go down, expect a rush of bids not just from Barcelona but also from clubs all over Europe. Still, the chance to play at Camp Nou and return to Champions League football is a big draw, so Barcelona might have the upper hand as things heat up this summer.
WHY BARCELONA IS COOLING INTEREST IN A PERMANENT MARCUS RASHFORD TRANSFER DEAL
Permanent Rashford transfer hits a deadlock. We analyse Barcelona's loan extension bid and Manchester United's firm transfer stance.
Reports suggest that FC Barcelona have reversed its stance on Manchester United’s loanee, Marcus Rashford, for a couple of key reasons.
Rashford spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Barcelona, who hold an option to sign him permanently for about £26 million.
The England international managed to score 12 goals and provide 13 assists over 43 appearances, which would make that £26 million fee seem like a reasonable deal for such a versatile forward.
Still, recent reports indicate that Barcelona are having second thoughts about making Rashford’s move permanent. Their initial interest has reportedly cooled.
According to The Athletic, Barcelona feel Rashford missed a crucial chance to shine, especially during Raphinha’s injury absence. There’s also hesitation over the cost, as the club isn’t keen to trigger the purchase option as it stands.
What about a return to Manchester United?
There’s been plenty of speculation about Rashford’s future, whether he stays with Barcelona or heads back to Old Trafford.
While a return was unlikely under former manager Ruben Amorim, things have shifted at Manchester United, making a comeback less far-fetched.
Last month, it came out that Rashford was actively pushing for a permanent move to Barcelona and had even made sacrifices to that end. Meanwhile, United has been keen to let him go and has been pursuing a long-term replacement.
That said, Rashford might have better prospects under Carrick at Man Utd than he did under Amorim, which could make a return mutually beneficial.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano weighed in recently, highlighting that Manchester United remain firm on their position but haven’t closed the door entirely on Rashford’s return.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained that United want €30 million for Rashford and are reluctant to negotiate below that. For now, there’s no deal because Barcelona have an agreement with the player but not with United.
Romano emphasised that the situation remains open-ended and clarified that this isn’t related to developments involving Brazilian youngster Conceicao.
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