Balde continues recovery

The season may have ended, but work hasn't ended at the Ciutat Esportiva. Alejandro Balde is still working hard to regain full fitness as he recovers from the hamstring injury that meant he missed such a large part of last season. The process has been long and difficult, but he is now approaching the home straight, the goal being for the full-back to be ready to rejoin the squad for the preseason.

Balde suffered the injury in January in the Copa del Rey game away to Athletic Club, which the Catalans went on to lose 3-2 in extra time. He was only on for 22 minutes of that game, replaced for the remainder by young Héctor Fort.

Fort, together with João Cancelo have done the bulk of the duty of standing in for Balde on the left side of the Barça defence for the rest of the season.