A late Sunday meeting between Manchester United, Barcelona and Jorge Mendes failed to resolve the impasse over Alejandro Balde, according to Fabrizio Romano, with United’s preferred loan structure still clashing with Barcelona’s demand for a permanent sale.
United are scrambling to sign a left-back before Tuesday’s deadline, and the search has centred on Balde as a stop-gap option. Romano’s account, relayed via a video posted to YouTube, states plainly that United believe the deal is too expensive as things stand.
Why United need a left-back fast
Luke Shaw’s display against Ipswich Town underlined the problem. His injury record and ageing legs mean he cannot be trusted to start multiple games a week, and INEOS have already missed out on Lewis Hall, with the plan now to revisit that move next summer.
United do not want to spend big to fix the position, which ruled out a late swoop for David Raum of RB Leipzig. Balde, rather than alternative names floated elsewhere, was identified as the stop-gap, with United proposing a loan featuring an option to buy that could, under certain conditions, become an obligation.
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Mendes laid out Barcelona’s terms
Per Romano, Mendes briefed United on every condition of a potential deal over the weekend, including Sunday. His message was unambiguous: Barcelona want a permanent transfer or nothing.
Balde himself is understood to be keen on staying at Camp Nou, which further reduces any urgency on the Spanish side to soften their stance. AC Milan, also credited with interest in the 22-year-old, have run into the identical obstacle, and only a shift in Barcelona’s conditions would open a late route for either club.
What happens next
Romano, despite the stalled talks, still expects Michael Carrick to get a new left-back before the window shuts. Who that ends up being remains unclear, and a Balde deal hinges entirely on Barcelona reconsidering their insistence on a permanent sale, or United deciding the asking price is worth meeting.
For now, the chase for a left-back goes on with the clock very much working against Old Trafford.