Balde: 'I made my dream come true'

"I've made my dream come true and only have words of gratitude to everyone who has helped to make this happen" said Alejandro Balde after signing a contract extension through to the end of June 2028. He put pen to paper at an event in the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper attended by president Joan Laporta, vice-president for sport Rafa Yuste and director of sport Deco.

Afterwards, on the Tito Vilanova field, Balde signed the traditional banner that will be auctioned by the Barça Foundation, and posed for pictures in a shirt bearing the year 2028... And he was also presented with a Barça membership card by Mr Laporta.

The president also spoke the media, saying "he is a player who has Barça inside, in his blood, and he knows what it means to represent this club. This is a historic day because it confirms that a home-bred lad is going to be part of the first team."

Balde then added that "when you are little you dream of playing for the first team. You know it's a difficult journey, but that's your goal. I'm happy because not all kids get to live the dream. I hope to continue doing what I have done until now or better, because I'm still very young. I'm 19 years old, and I still have a lot to learn."

Balde first came to FC Barcelona in 2011 and has since risen all the way up through the youth ranks, until making the left side of defence his own at the very highest level.