Barcelona supporters back Balde on season debut
Alejandro Balde received a strong ovation from Barcelona supporters after replacing João Cancelo against Racing Santander.
Barcelona supporters chanted Alejandro Balde’s name after manager Hansi Flick introduced the left-back during Wednesday’s La Liga meeting with Racing Santander.
The appearance was Balde’s first of the season. He came on for João Cancelo, who had reportedly scored twice before being replaced.
Yahoo Sports reported that the crowd’s reaction came during a difficult period for the 22-year-old defender. The report said Balde endured a challenging individual 2025/26 campaign and had been linked with a move away from Barcelona during the summer.
Balde ultimately remained at the club, but the report characterised him as being behind Cancelo and youngster Xavi Espart in Barcelona’s left-back hierarchy.
The supporters’ chant offered a public show of backing for Balde after his introduction, although the supplied report does not establish whether it reflected broader sentiment among Barcelona fans. The match result and the precise minute of his arrival were not provided.
