Alejandro Balde has decided to leave Barcelona this summer, with Manchester United now favourites to sign him after shifting their approach to a loan.
The change marks a sharp reversal for the left-back, who had spent the window publicly committed to staying at Camp Nou despite persistent interest from elsewhere in Europe.
That stance held until Barcelona's official confirmation of João Cancelo's signing. The sporting department's intention to bring Cancelo back to the club for a third spell had been known for some time, but his arrival was only finalised in the past few days — and it changed everything for Balde.
The defender already knew his role this season would be different with a fresh face in the left-back slot, but he had been prepared to fight for his place.
The turning point came when Hansi Flick left Balde out of the squad for the trip to face Elche. It was there that the coach also gave a start to Xavi Espart, signalling that the young full-back could now be ahead of Balde in the pecking order too. Following a series of conversations in the hours since, Balde has told the club he wants to leave before the market closes.
Barcelona value Balde at between €30m and €40m, and Jorge Mendes, the player's agent, is now working alongside the club to find him a destination. Time is against them: with roughly a week left before the window shuts, most of Europe's leading clubs have already completed the bulk of their business, closing off several potential landing spots.
Manchester United remain the best-placed suitor, though their approach has shifted since their own recent signings: the club has now ruled out a permanent transfer and is instead pushing for a loan deal. Barcelona had been prioritising a sale to raise funds, but the lack of time may force them to accept the loan structure rather than risk losing Balde for nothing this window.
Other offers exist, though none carry the same appeal as United's. Barcelona do not expect a swift resolution to a situation that has escalated rapidly in the space of little over a week, with Mendes and sporting director Deco continuing to search for solutions that could run into the closing days of the market.