How Good Is Alejandro Balde: (Biography, Playing Style, And Salary)

This group provides a complete biography of the Barcelona superstar, Alejandro Balde. You’ll learn about his career, style of play, contract, and salary.

Who Is Alejandro Balde?

How Good Is Alejandro Balde

Alejandro Balde Martínez is a young and talented football player who has made a name for himself in a short time. He was born on October 18, 2003, in Barcelona, Spain.

Alejandro Balde is a left-back, and he currently plays for FC Barcelona, one of the top teams in Spain’s La Liga. He also plays for the Spain national team, representing his country in international matches.

Balde is recognized for his speed, skill with the ball, and ability to play in different positions on the field, which has made him one of the most promising young players in football today.

Alejandro Balde’s father is from Guinea-Bissau, and his mother is from the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean and grew up in Barcelona. However, Balde started playing football when he was very young.

He first played for a local club called CE Sant Gabriel, and his talent became clear, soon he moved to another club, RCD Espanyol, which is also based in Barcelona.

In 2011, when he was just eight years old, he joined FC Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia. La Masia is known for developing some of the best football players in the world, like Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta.

At La Masia, Balde showed that he was not just an ordinary player. He often played with older boys, even though he was younger than them.

He played at different levels, winning league titles in different age groups like U10, U12, U14, and U16. These successes helped him build as a dynamic left-back who could contribute to both defense and attack.

Alejandro Balde’s professional career started when he was promoted to FC Barcelona Atlètic, the reserve team of FC Barcelona, during the 2020-21 season.

This team plays in the Segunda División B, which is the third tier of Spanish football. In that season, Balde played 15 games and continued to impress everyone with his performances.

In the 2021-22 season, Balde made his debut for FC Barcelona’s first team. His first appearance was in a UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich, one of the top teams in Europe.

Even though he was still a backup to the more experienced Jordi Alba, Balde’s potential was obvious. He was soon offered a new contract in July 2021, which extended his stay at Barcelona until 2024.

The contract also included a very high release clause of €500 million to show how much the club valued him. The 2022-23 season was a breakthrough year for Balde.

Under the guidance of Xavi Hernández, Balde became a regular starter. He often outperformed Jordi Alba and earned more playing time even In big matches. His excellent performances helped FC Barcelona win the La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup that season.

Recognizing his contribution, the club rewarded him with another new contract in September 2023, this time extending his stay until 2028.

The new contract included an even higher buyout clause of €1 billion. However, Balde’s progress faced a challenge in January 2024. He suffered a hamstring injury during a Copa del Rey match against Athletic Club.

The injury was serious enough to require surgery, which meant Balde had to take a break from playing for some time.

Alejandro Balde’s international career is just as impressive as his club career. Although he could have chosen to play for Guinea-Bissau, his father’s country, Balde decided to represent Spain.

Balde’s first major game with the Spain national team came just before the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He was called up to the squad at the last minute, after another player, José Gayà, got injured.

Balde made his international debut on November 23, 2022, in a match against Costa Rica. Spain won the match 7-0, and Balde came on as a substitute for Jordi Alba.

During the World Cup, Balde played in four matches, and his performances were fantastic. Alejandro Balde is known for several key qualities that make him a special player.

Even though Alejandro Balde is still very young, he has already won several awards and honors. Some of the most notable ones include:

La Liga Team of the Season: 2022-23
IFFHS Men’s World Youth (U20) Team: 2023
IFFHS Men’s Youth (U20) UEFA Team: 2023

Balde’s future looks very bright, and many fans believe he will become one of the best players in the world in the coming years.

Alejandro Balde’s Playing Style

Alejandro Balde is a dynamic and promising left-back whose playing style combines speed, technical skill, and tactical intelligence.

As a young player, he has shown great potential, especially under the guidance of former coach Xavi at FC Barcelona. Many believe that Balde is on his way to becoming one of the top defenders in European football.

His performances for both FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team are being closely watched, as he aims to secure his place among the best players in the game.

Balde’s playing style is exciting to watch. His explosive speed and agility make him a strong presence on the left side of the field.

He is known for making quick, overlapping runs that help Barcelona’s attack by adding width and depth, providing support and options for his teammates.

His speed is also a big help when it comes to defense. He can recover quickly when the team loses the ball, making him a key player in Barcelona’s counter-pressing tactics.

This pressing style, where the team tries to win back the ball after losing it, is a big part of how Barcelona plays under Xavi, and Balde’s athleticism fits perfectly into this approach.

Defensively, Balde stands out for his proactive approach. He doesn’t just wait for the opponent to come to him; instead, he actively closes down players and puts pressure on them.

This often forces mistakes and helps Barcelona regain possession. Balde is also good at reading the game, he can anticipate where the ball is going and intercept passes before they reach their target.

His ability to make great interceptions and recoveries has been seen in many key matches. Along with his smart thinking, Balde is physically strong, which helps him challenge opponents effectively.

Even when under pressure, he stays calm and composed. On the offensive side, Balde contributes a lot as well. He is known for delivering accurate crosses for creating goal-scoring chances.

His ability to move the ball into the final third of the field, where scoring opportunities are created, is impressive. Balde is also very good at passing, with a high success rate of 85% on forward passes.

This accuracy is particularly notable for a full-back, as it shows his ability to keep the ball moving forward and maintain the flow of the game. His passing ability allows him to set up his teammates for potential goals.

During the 2022-23 season, Balde was an Integral part of Barcelona’s success, particularly in their La Liga and Super Cup victories. One of his best performances was against Mallorca, completing all his forward passes.

Alejandro Balde Salary

According to Capology.com, Balde has a contract with Barcelona that lasts until June 30, 2028, with a gross salary of €6,680,000 over the next four years.

For the 2024-2025 season, he is set to earn a gross base salary of €1,670,000, which breaks down to about €32,115 per week, not including any bonuses.

In September 2023, Balde signed a contract extension with Barcelona, securing his future at the club until 2028. This new contract includes a massive buyout clause of €1 billion.

The extension followed an impressive 2022-23 season, where he played 33 games in La Liga and scored 1 goal. He continued to perform well in the 2023-24 season, making 18 appearances in La Liga, 2 in the Copa del Rey, and 6 in other European competitions, adding 1 goal and 1 assist to his record.

While Balde’s exact net worth isn’t publicly known, it is likely to be significant given his high salary, long-term contract, and market value, which is estimated to be between €40-50 million according to Transfermarkt.

Ken Anucha

Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.