Barcelona Weighing Options as Marcos Alonso’s Future Hangs in the Balance

Barcelona, facing financial constraints, are considering their options for the future, and one of their long-serving veterans, Marcos Alonso, may find himself on the verge of departure. The 32-year-old left-back, whose contract expires next summer, is reportedly leaning towards an exit from the club. Alonso joined Barcelona as a free agent from Chelsea two summers ago and played a crucial rotational role in the previous season, serving as the backup for emerging talent Alejandro Balde this year. However, with just six appearances to his name and one of the larger wages in the squad, it seems likely that Barcelona is prepared to part ways with him.

In his place, the club is eyeing 19-year-old La Masia talent, Alex Valle, to make the transition to the first team. Valle, a product of Barcelona’s youth system, spent the latter half of the previous season on loan at Andorra, making limited impact with seven appearances and 304 minutes of play. This season, he has been loaned to Levante, where he has already made a substantial impact, featuring in nine matches and accumulating 784 minutes of game time.

Bojan Krkic, Barcelona’s loan scout, expressed satisfaction with Valle’s development, stating, “He is performing very well too. He has suffered a hamstring injury, and in two weeks, I will go see him. I’m talking to Quique Alvarez, Levante’s assistant coach, and they are very happy with him.”

As Barcelona’s squad depth has significantly diminished in recent years, the prospect of promoting Valle to the first team next season is gaining traction within the club. While Xavi Hernandez has lauded Alonso’s influence in the dressing room, the club appears to view his potential departure as a viable cost-saving measure. For Alonso, the decision may ultimately come down to accepting a substantial wage reduction to remain at the club or seeking new opportunities elsewhere.