Alejandro Balde, a crucial defender for FC Barcelona and the squad’s first-choice left back, is believed to have suffered an adductor injury while on national team duty with Spain. This adds to the growing list of fitness concerns for the club.
The left back, who is only 19 years old, got the starting nod for La Roja in their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match against Scotland Friday night.
Fran Garcia of Real Madrid came in to replace Balde when he was taken off the field by Luis de la Fuente, the manager of Real Madrid, at the halftime break.
Following the match, the Spain national team issued a statement in which they confirmed that Balde had departed the national team camp due to soreness in his adductors and that this was the reason for the statement.
“Nico Williams and Alejandro Balde have been called off due to physical problems after Spain’s victory against Scotland (2-0),” stated the statement. “The match will not continue.”
Since the previous Tuesday, Williams has been experiencing pain in his intercostal muscles, whereas Balde has been having issues with the adductors in his lower leg.
Even while it is believed that the problem is not very serious and that his return is a precautionary measure, a more accurate picture of Balde’s condition will emerge once he has gone through testing at the club’s facilities.
Alfonso Pedraza, who plays for Villarreal, has been called up to take the 19-year-old’s place in Spain’s squad for their upcoming trip to Norway.