Things have gone from bad to worse for Barcelona as one Blaugrana starlet has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury.
That player is Alejandro Balde, who suffered an injury during the club's embarrassing 4-2 loss to Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey recently. The initial reports suggested he would be sidelined for a couple of weeks but the Spanish club have now released an official statement regarding his fitness and the assessment turned out far worse.
As revealed by the club, the 20-year-old has suffered an injury to the tendon in his right hamstring and will thus undergo surgery. While Barcelona did not reveal an official timeline, his layoff is clear: the highly-rated fullback will not play again this season.
"Tests show that first team player Alejandro Balde has an injury to the tendon in his right hamstring," the defending Spanish champions announced via X (formerly Twitter).
Tests show that first team player Alejandro Balde has an injury to the tendon in his right hamstring. In the coming days he will undergo a surgical procedure at the hands of Dr. Lasse Lempainen, under the supervision of the Club's medical staff, in Turku, Finland. Once the… pic.twitter.com/GBffnBrleB
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 27, 2024
"In the coming days he will undergo a surgical procedure at the hands of Dr. Lasse Lempainen, under the supervision of the Club's medical staff, in Turku, Finland.
"Once the procedure has been carried out a new statement will be released."
This is yet another blow for Xavi's struggling side, who were already reeling from the absence of fellow starlet Gavi following the midfielder's painful ACL tear. Likewise, Marcos Alonso, Marc-André ter Stegen, Raphinha, and Sergi Roberto have all endured spells on the sidelines.
According to Marca, several tests were taken to determine the severity of his injury and the best course of action. While the Spaniard could have returned earlier had his camp opted for a non-surgical treatment, the risk of his injury reoccurring was high. As a result, a four-month layoff looks to be inevitable.
Not only would this end his season but it could also end his Euro 2024 hopes, with the tournament kicking off on June 14. However, the immediate focus is on Barcelona and what this injury will mean for Xavi's struggling side.
The Catalan giants missed out on the Supercopa de Espana to Real Madrid and crashed out of the Copa del Rey at the hands of Athletic Club. Furthermore, Lewandowski and Co. are eight points adrift of La Liga leaders Girona and are not seen as the favorites to win the UEFA Champions League. Nonetheless, with Joao Cancelo and Marcos Alonso returning, Xavi should be able to cope.
