Balde to United: how the saga unfolded

How the stance changed

According to Fabrizio Romano, as reported by Football365, Barcelona have shifted their position and are now open to letting Balde leave this summer. The Spanish international left-back has been a regular starter at Camp Nou and a fixture in the Spain setup, so the club's willingness to sell marks a real change of direction.

Balde's own position has moved too. Initial reports suggested he was cool on the prospect of Old Trafford. That has changed. Romano's update indicates the player is now warming to the idea, with United's formal offer landing as the moment that appears to have focused minds on all sides.

Mendes in the middle

The agent at the centre of this is Jorge Mendes, whose relationship with Old Trafford goes back years and who is brokering the negotiations between United and Barcelona. His involvement signals that both clubs are treating this as a serious conversation rather than a speculative enquiry.

No fee has been confirmed in any of the reporting. Personal terms have not been agreed. This is a deal in motion, not a deal done.

What Balde would give United

United's left flank has been a recurring problem. Balde is exactly the profile that fixes it: quick, effective going forward, and young enough to be a long-term answer rather than a short-term patch. At 21, he is already operating at the top level of European football and has Champions League experience. For Ruben Amorim's system, a left-back who can carry the ball and combine in tight spaces is what the setup demands.

For Barcelona, selling Balde would represent a notable shift in their transfer strategy this window. It also raises questions about their own left-back depth and what they do with the funds.

Where it stands

Romano's reporting, carried by Football365, frames this as active and ongoing rather than concluded. The arc runs from Barcelona's reluctance to sell, to Balde's own change of heart, to a formal offer now on the table.