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BAlde ALSO SPOKE ABOUT ANSU FATI

Alejandro Balde confronts racism: "I am Black and I am proud of it"

Published:28/01/2025 - 17:02h

Updated:28/01/2025 - 17:02h

Alejandro Balde accompanied Hansi Flick at the press conference before the Barça-Atalanta match. The defender spoke about the racist incidents in Getafe and the situation of Ansu Fati

Calendar of FC Barcelona

Alejandro Balde was the player chosen by FC Barcelona to accompany Hansi Flick at the press conference before the match between the culés and Atalanta at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The left-back spoke out about the racist episode he was a victim of at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez and defended Ansu Fati regarding the complicated situation he is experiencing in the azulgrana team.

The defender began by talking about the tough match that the Catalans will face this coming Wednesday against 'La Dea'. "We have a very important match. We are qualified, but we are playing against a great rival. The match the other day (against Valencia) gave us confidence. We have to go for the three points," stated the player.

Additionally, he assured that Gian Piero Gasperini's team is "a great team, they are having a great league. Last year they won the Europa League and it will be a complicated match," adding with laughter that "I didn't know who the coach was... I had no idea... I suppose he is doing well."

"Our idea is always to aim for all titles. We shouldn't focus more on one than the other. We are Barça and we have to go for everything"

"We have a great team to do great things, we already won the Super Cup. In Champions we are doing well. The times we have played against big teams, we have competed and/or won," continued Balde, who made it clear that "our idea is always to aim for all titles. We shouldn't focus more on one than the other. We are Barça and we have to go for everything".

The racist episode experienced against Getafe

The footballer, on the other hand, explained the situation he experienced at the Coliseum, where he received racist insults from a sector of the Getafe fans. The youth player stated that it was "a complicated situation," but he does not want to "generalize to all of Spanish football" with something that is done by "three or four people".

"Being called Black doesn't bother me. I am Black and I am proud of it"

Balde raised the flag against racism by stating that "when you receive insults, you point out those who are responsible and let the law act. I am a guy who, personally, is not affected by these insults. I said it because it had happened already on several occasions, so it was time to say it. Being called Black doesn't bother me. I am Black and I am proud of it".

"What surprises me is being called Black for no reason in Getafe when their captain is Black. Those are the things that surprise me. Just report those who are responsible and that's it, there is nothing more to say," concluded the blaugrana left-back.

The situation of Ansu Fati and Iñaki Peña

When questioned about the opposing situations of his two friends, Ansu Fati and Lamine Yamal, Balde stated that "Ansu Fati is one of my best friends, we spend a lot of time together, we share many things. He is in a complicated situation, but he is encouraged and eager to play. He will return, he has incredible talent, I will always support him. I try to encourage him. And Lamine is at an incredible level, he is becoming one of the best in the world and still has a lot of room for learning".

Similarly, the left-back also defended Iñaki Peña, who has been relegated to the bench due to Flick's choice of Szczesny, the new starter of the team. "I see Iñaki well, we have a very good relationship. He is one of the hardest workers on the team: he is always in the gym and is one of the last to leave. These things can happen and what matters is how you react and how you adapt," he commented.

The Barça dressing room

Balde, on the other hand, spoke about the youth of the Barça dressing room, stating that "we understand each other very well, we are very young. I am 21 years old and I seem to be one of the most veteran. Cubarsí, Lamine... we are young and eager to win titles... we share hobbies and spend a lot of time together, that is the good thing about the team".

Additionally, he made it clear that the presence of so many youth players has helped unite the dressing room. "Since I have been at Barça, one of the great things is that the dressing room has always been very united, but this year we are younger. It is one of the best things we have", he stated.

The impact of Hansi Flick on the team and his game

Regarding his outstanding form, the left-back assured that "my first season was very good, the second was more complicated and I had the injury. It is not easy to return from a six-month injury and play everything. Not all of us are like Pedri or Lamine, who are born with incredible talent. I am in a very good stage, both physically and mentally. I am very young and can continue learning".

"I am only 21 years old and in football, people are getting used to it. They expect you to be the best in the world at 19-20 years old. I can improve in many things: in attack, mentally... I hope to keep it up," he added.

Finally, regarding the changes that Flick has implemented in the Barça playing system and his training, Balde commented that "each staff brings its philosophy. Last year we were also doing well. We are a little better, but we also have to value what we did", he concluded.