Return home? Barça sets sights on Alejandro Grimaldo

The FC Barcelona board seems determined to sign a left-back next summer. Although the club has complete confidence in Alejandro Balde, it has become clear in recent weeks that there is a need to bring in another player capable of covering the back of the '3'. Álex has had little rest due to the doubts surrounding Gerard Martín, and Héctor Fort is only considered by Hansi Flick for his natural position on the right side.

In this sense, the Barça coaching staff has reportedly set its sights on Alejandro Grimaldo as an alternative to Balde for the 2025/26 season. The Spanish defender left La Masia in 2016 to sign with Benfica for 2.1 million euros. After seven years in Portugal, Leverkusen signed him for 'free' in 2023, and under the orders of Xabi Alonso, he has become one of the best left wing-backs in the Bundesliga.

This season, the Valencia native has scored 4 goals and provided 10 assists in 34 matches (2,791 minutes), and his market value has skyrocketed to 40 million euros. The 29-year-old player is under contract until 2027 and, although he feels very comfortable at Bayer, he is willing to make the leap to another big club in Europe this summer if, ultimately, Xabi Alonso decides to leave the Bayer team. Real Madrid seems to be the ideal destination for the player from San Sebastián.

Leverkusen will not facilitate Alejandro Grimaldo's departure

However, Leverkusen is not willing to facilitate Grimaldo's departure or that of any of its key players. Except for Jonathan Tah, whose contract ends in June, the club has set a high price for most of its key players, such as Florian Wirtz (around 150M €). Initially, the Spanish international would cost Barça around 40 'million', a somewhat high figure for the club's finances, considering that he would be a player whose starting position would not be guaranteed.

Other alternatives for the position being considered by the club are Álvaro Carreras (Benfica, 21 years old), Mitchel Bakker (Lille, 24 years old), and Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace, 25). Additionally, Barça is also not ruling out going for another right-back, as Jules Koundé does not have a 100% reliable backup for Hansi Flick's rotation plan.