Barcelona youngster Alejandro Balde has been ruled out of the rest of the season, MySportDab reports.
The 20-year-old picked up an excruciating hamstring issue during Barcelona’s Copa Del Rey defeat to Athletic Bilbao.
Balde was forced off the pitch in tears before the break following the injury blow.
It was initially thought Balde could beat the challenge and return to action soon but a grim update as shared by Barcelona today revealed the youngster suffered serious damage to his tendon and will have to undergo surgery.
Sources close to the club have revealed Balde’s season with Barcelona is literally over as it would take him four months to recover and return to full fitness after the surgery.
Meanwhile, some Spanish media outlets said Balde’s injury could have been managed for him to return to action but Barcelona objected to the move.
The club opted for the surgical solution so as not to compound the situation. However, Balde’s agent Jorge Mendes and his other representatives reportedly agreed with Barcelona for the surgery.
Tests show that first team player Alejandro Balde has an injury to the tendon in his right hamstring. In the coming days he will undergo a surgical procedure at the hands of Dr. Lasse Lempainen, under the supervision of the Club's medical staff, in Turku, Finland. Once the… pic.twitter.com/GBffnBrleB
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 27, 2024
Balde’s injury blow comes amid Barcelona’s stuttering campaign with a piling injury crisis on the left-back.
Joao Cancelo and Marcos Alonso are also on the sidelines leaving Xavi capitulated with limited left-back options to fill the void.
Meanwhile, the club is also teetering on the edge of a trophyless campaign, having lost the Super Cup to Real Madrid, out of Copa Del Rey, and 7 points adrift of La Liga leaders Girona.
Xavi Hernandez, who is reeling under pressure following the club’s dismal run this term, will hope to relaunch the team into the La Liga title race despite the piling injury crisis.
Balde is now the second Barcelona youngster to miss the rest of the reason due to injury after Gavi’s similar hamstring blow in mid-November 2023.
