Alejandro Balde, 100 games for FC Barcelona

Alejandro Balde made his 100th appearance for Barça this Sunday 15 December at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The 21-year-old reached the landmark figure after featuring against Leganés.

Debut

The Catalan made his competitive debut in September 2021 in the Champions League against Bayern Munich at Spotify Camp Nou. Barça lost that day but Balde made an immediate impact and got to start the game with Granada, also at home, a few days later.

Consolidation

But it was in the 2022/23 league-winning season that he truly became an established part of the first team. Indeed, the day the title was sealed with a 4-2 win at Espanyol, he scored a goal and gave an assist, and also featured in the team that beat Real Madrid to win the Spanish Super Cup.

Stats

That was one of two goals that Balde has scored for the club, the other coming in the Copa del Rey. Moving up the wing he has also provided 10 assists in his first 100 games. Not a bad stat for a defender, and especially one so young.

Culer through and through

Balde entered La Masía in 2011 when he was just eight years old, having previously been in the Espanyol academy. He was a league winner for Barça no fewer than nine different times at different age levels.