Milan Eye Balde as Injuries Ravage Their Flanks

Injury Crisis Forces Milan to Rethink January Plans

Milan are facing a genuine problem on the flanks, and the solution may lie in Catalonia. According to Calciomercato.com, the Rossoneri could renew their interest in Alejandro Balde in January, with injuries to Pervis Estupiñán and Alexis Saelemaekers leaving head coach Ruben Amorim short of options out wide.

The situation is a familiar one for a squad that has already had to shuffle its resources this season. Losing two wide players simultaneously is the kind of blow that reshapes a manager's tactical planning, particularly for a coach like Amorim who relies on energy and width in his wing-back roles. With Estupiñán and Saelemaekers both unavailable, Milan's depth on the left and right has been stretched thin, and the club's recruitment team appears to be treating the January window as an opportunity rather than a formality.

Balde's Barcelona Standstill Opens the Door

Balde's situation at Barcelona is being monitored closely, according to the same report. The wing-back has slipped out of Hansi Flick's plans and has played just 12 minutes this season — a cameo off the bench against Racing Santander with the result long since decided.

That is a remarkable fall for a player who was once viewed as a long-term fixture at the club. He has fallen behind João Cancelo and even Xavi Espart, a natural right-back, in the pecking order. When a right-footed defender is preferred on the left ahead of a specialist, the message to the player is difficult to ignore.

Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona would be open to selling in the winter window and would use the money to sign a centre-back, with Andreas Christensen injured. That adds a financial and squad-planning motive to Barcelona's willingness to do business — they are not simply looking to trim a surplus asset, they are looking to reallocate funds into a position of need.

A Deal Milan Already Turned Down Once

What makes this story particularly intriguing is that Milan have already had one chance to sign Balde. Agent Jorge Mendes offered the player to the Rossoneri in late August, shortly after Diego Moreira's arrival. The club turned him down because of the €40m asking price and because their priorities at the time were a centre-back and an attacking midfielder.

That context matters. Milan's rejection was not a judgment on Balde's quality — it was a question of resource allocation. With two wide players now injured, the calculus has shifted. A lower fee or a more flexible deal structure could change the club's position, especially with Balde's contract running only until June 2028. A player entering the final years of his deal is rarely in a strong negotiating position, and Barcelona's need to raise funds for a centre-back gives Milan a potential lever.

For Milan, the appeal is obvious: a young, attacking left-sided defender who could step straight into Amorim's system and cover for the absent Estupiñán. For Balde, a move would mean regular minutes and a chance to rebuild momentum after a season that has barely started for him.

Competition Is Looming

Milan would not be alone in the race, however. Juventus want to give Luciano Spalletti the left-back he asked for in the summer, while Manchester United, who pursued Balde at length before the window closed, are expected to return.

That trio of suitors turns a straightforward squad-fix into a competitive negotiation. Juventus have a clearly stated positional need, and United's persistence before the deadline suggests their interest was not casual. Milan's advantage may lie in timing and structure — if they can move early in January and offer Barcelona a deal that suits their centre-back plans, they could steal a march on their rivals.

For now, the immediate concern for Amorim is managing a squad missing two wide options. The injury absences of Estupiñán and Saelemaekers are not just a short-term inconvenience; they have exposed a structural gap that Milan must address. Whether Balde is the answer will depend on how flexible both clubs are willing to be when the window opens.

Milan's supporters will be watching the situation closely, and so will followers of the Serie A predictions market, where squad depth often separates title challengers from the rest. For the latest developments across Europe, keep an eye on our latest football news hub, and for matchday calls, see today's AI betting tips.