Alejandro Balde to Man Utd: Fabrizio Romano responds to 'late push' for Barcelona ace

1 Sept 2026 18:21 BST | 4 min read

Tom Weber | Writer

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Manchester United have been linked with a "late push" for Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde.

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The Red Devils' most pressing priority in the final days of the window has been to add competition for Luke Shaw, but with the clock now ticking down on Deadline Day, there has yet to be any progress on that front.

Man Utd have been scouring the market for possible last-minute opportunities, with the club favouring signing someone on loan. They currently do not have the funds to bring in a big-money, long-term replacement for Shaw.

Current ETV

Alejandro Balde

D (L)

Barcelona

Alejandro Balde

D (L)

Barcelona

ETV Range

€38.9M - €47.5M

A deal for Newcastle star Lewis Hall, the club's top target, has been off the table for some time, while Man Utd also failed with an initial approach for Barcelona star Balde. The LaLiga champions were only willing to consider a sale.

However, Man Utd considered the package to sign the 22-year-old permanently too expensive and left the talks. That was until Barcelona insider Gerard Romero claimed this afternoon that the Red Devils had restarted discussions over Balde.

Romano responds to Balde rumour

The journalist asserted that Man Utd were making a late push for the Spaniard. Romero also suggested that the deal was hinging on the player rather than a club-to-club agreement, with Balde still unwilling to consider an exit despite Hansi Flick's refusal to use him.

However, according to Fabrizio Romano, there has been no fresh movement regarding Balde. Although it can't be ruled out that Man Utd make a late signing if they find the right opportunity, it won't be the Spaniard.

Barcelona consider their summer business done. The only deal they are still finalising is Marc Casado's loan exit to Deportivo La Coruna; there will be no further transfers before the deadline unless something extraordinary happens.

"Look, on Man Utd, we can't rule out anything," Romano said on his YouTube channel. "They're looking for an opportunity at left-back, if there is an opportunity last-minute.

"The message I'm getting from Barcelona is that they consider their market closed. Apart from Casado... Barcelona consider all the rest done. Gabriel Jesus - announced, Julian Alvarez is going nowhere, that's also a story of this Deadline Day.

"And then also important to mention that Barcelona consider the Balde story almost over. Unless Man Utd do something crazy - never say never, again - but at this stage, the feeling from those close to the player and also from Barcelona is that this deal is not likely to happen."