Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde undergoes surgery on a hamstring injury

Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde has undergone surgery on a hamstring injury in Finland.

The homegrown 20-year-old talent has played 28 matches in all competitions this season and was forced off 23 minutes into last Wednesday’s Copa del Rey defeat at Athletic Bilbao.

Tests showed Balde had sustained an injury to a hamstring tendon that required surgery, which could rule the Spain international out for the remainder of the season.

A statement from the LaLiga club read: “The first team player Alejandro Balde has undergone a successful surgical procedure on the injury to the tendon in his right hamstring.

MEDICAL NEWS

Alejandro Balde undergoes successful surgery on the tendon in his right hamstring

https://t.co/0JN1IsWZUi pic.twitter.com/YflWfNU6fU

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 30, 2024

“The procedure was carried out by Dr Lasse Lempainen, under the supervision of the club’s medical staff, in Turku, Finland.

“The player is unavailable for selection and his recovery will dictate his return.”

Balde joins Barca’s lengthy list of absentees. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marcos Alonso and Inigo Martinez are also out, as are Gavi and Raphinha.

Sergi Roberto also missed Saturday’s 5-3 home defeat against Villarreal with an Achilles tendon problem.