Sports
Barcelona is preparing to take action in the upcoming winter transfer window to address the issue of the left-back position, amid uncertainty surrounding Alejandro Balde's future and the possibility of his departure from the Catalan club. The club is closely monitoring the situation of Algerian player Ryan Ait Nouri, who is experiencing limited playing time with Manchester City under coach Enzo Maresca, and appears open to a change of scenery in January in search of regular minutes and a chance to regain his status. The 25-year-old Algerian is dissatisfied with his current role at Manchester City, having failed to secure a regular spot in the starting lineup since joining the English side, prompting him and his close circle to consider a mid-season exit. Barcelona's interest in Ait Nouri is longstanding, as the club had tracked the player before his move to Manchester City, but the English club succeeded in securing his signature. Ait Nouri joined Manchester City in June 2025 from Wolverhampton on a contract running until summer 2030, after impressing in the English Premier League. In his final season with Wolverhampton, the left-back featured in 37 league matches, scoring 4 goals and providing 6 assists, highlighting his attacking prowess before moving to the Etihad Stadium. However, his stint at Manchester City has not met expectations, as he has not been able to establish himself as a key player, and his future is now uncertain amid growing chances of a transfer in the upcoming window. The main obstacle for Barcelona lies in the financial terms of the deal, with Manchester City not opposed to loaning the player in January but preferring to include a clause obligating the borrowing club to make the transfer permanent in June. This condition poses a challenge for Barcelona, which aims to capitalize on transfer opportunities without committing to large sums that could impact plans to strengthen other positions in the summer. Moreover, the Catalan club is cautious about making a significant financial investment, especially since the completion of the deal depends on developments regarding Balde's future, who still has a chance to change his situation within the team. Barcelona's potential move for Ait Nouri is closely linked to Balde's fate, as the latter's role has diminished under coach Hans Flick, making a winter transfer exit a plausible scenario. Balde has started to accept the idea of leaving the club in search of more playing time, following his reduced role in the coach's plans, despite his desire to reclaim a starting position. Reports indicate interest from Italian clubs such as Roma and Juventus in signing the Spanish left-back, as Barcelona looks to benefit financially from his departure. Balde's exit presents a tactical challenge for Barcelona, as he is one of the primary natural options for the left-back position, making the acquisition of a suitable replacement essential to avoid leaving the role insufficiently reinforced during the second half of the season. Interest in Ait Nouri is not exclusive to Barcelona; Manchester United is also monitoring the player after attempting to sign him in the previous transfer window, and Juventus is among the clubs interested in his services. The player's agent, Ali Bratt, has held several meetings with Barcelona's sporting director over recent months to discuss various transfer market matters, keeping communication channels open between the parties. The agent previously offered Barcelona the possibility of signing the young talent Jay Gabriel, who is reportedly close to joining Real Madrid. With Ait Nouri eager to revive his career at Manchester City and Barcelona potentially needing to reinforce the left-back position, the deal appears mutually beneficial. However, its conclusion will depend on Manchester City's stance on the loan conditions and the developments regarding Balde's future in the coming weeks.
