The comments came in an interview published through Barcelona's official media channels.
"He hasn't been here long and I've talked to him quite a bit. He seems calm... I'm sure he'll help us a lot this season. He's very fast. I already knew of him from before. What's impressed me is how fast he is," said Balde, who did not face any questions on his own future at the club during the wide-ranging interview.
The left-back, who joined Barcelona's academy in 2011 at the age of eight and made his first-team debut against Bayern Munich in September 2021 as a replacement for the injured Jordi Alba, spoke at length about the man he succeeded in the left-back role.
"If I could play in another position, it would be as a winger. I've played there before. I like it, but I prefer full-back. Jordi Alba inspired me in that position. I used to watch him when I was young. I'd highlight his speed, his crosses, his passing... he's the best full-back in Barça's history, for me and I think for everyone," Balde said.
On the dressing room, he singled out his closest friends.
"I have a very good relationship with him, and with his family. My closest friends in the dressing room are Casadó, Lamine, Héctor, Gavi, Roony, Ronald... I don't want to leave anyone out. I get on well with everyone," he said of his bond with Raphinha and others.
Asked to pick a standout personal memory, Balde pointed to a Clásico victory under Xavi Hernández.
"When we won the Clásico under Xavi. It was in the last minute and I set up the assist for Kessié. It's also one of the matches I'm fondest of," he said, adding that his best individual goal came "against Real Madrid, in the Supercopa final. I don't have that many, anyway..."
Growing up, his footballing hero was clear.
"It was always Samuel Eto'o, and Henry... I loved Eto'o. I used to watch videos of him when I was little," Balde said. On matchday habits, he added: "I don't have a routine before matches. I'm not superstitious. But if we play at 9pm, I take a long nap, about two hours..., I do physio and then we head to the ground." Asked what he might do outside football, he said: "Something related to athletics..."
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 campaign, Balde said he wants to keep developing.
"On an individual level, I hope to keep improving and learning, I'm young and I still have room to grow. And collectively, to keep up this level and even more... if more titles can come..."