Balde back after six months

Alejandro Balde is back! And that can only be good news for FC Barcelona. After 189 days on the side-lines, the 20-year-old was finally declared fully fit on July 25, and against Manchester City in Orlando, the full back finally got to play match football again.

With the score at 2-2, he came on after 74 minutes as a replacement for Gerard Martin. That meant he was still on for the penalty shootout, and volunteered to take one. And he scored... thus playing an important part in helping the preseason to get off to a winning start.

Balde's right hamstring injury was sustained against Athletic Club in the cup at San Mamés last January 24. A week later, he'd find himself in Turku, Finland to undergo surgery performed by doctor Lasse Lempainen, under the supervision of the club medical services, and since then he's had to endure a six-month wait before finally playing a game again.

Before getting injured, he'd been a regular part of the Barça defence, playing 28 games in the 2023/24 season, and scoring one goal and giving an assist too.