5 players who can replace Jordi Alba at Barcelona

#3 Alejandro Balde

Balde is an exciting young prospect

The current understudy of Jordi Alba, Alejandro Balde is right there among the upcoming batch of young La Masia talents at Barcelona. Following the departure of Junior Firpo to Leeds United, Balde is the only designated left-back at Camp Nou, aside from Alba, of course.

The 18-year-old prospect has garnered a lot of praise from the Barcelona faithful due to his impressive outings. A pacy defender with commendable close ball control, similar to Jordi Alba, Balde has made two appearances for the senior squad this season. Elaborating on his immense potential, former Barcelona Under-19s coach Franc Artiga stated:

“Balde is perfect for Barca. If they were to look for a full-back in the market, they would sign a player like Balde."

Considering Barcelona's ongoing financial predicament, incorporating Balde into the first-team setup will be a logical choice for the club. The stage is set for the young Spaniard to take the reigns from Jordi Alba.

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#2 Alejandro Grimaldo

Grimaldo (R) recently dismantled his former side in the Champions League

Another Spanish prodigy who received his footballing education from the esteemed La Masia, Alex Grimaldo has thrived since leaving Barcelona for Benfica. Convinced of his boyhood club's reluctance to trust their youth, the youngster boldly decided to ditch the Blaugrana in 2016.

Since then, Grimaldo has gone on to forge a formidable career at Benfica, establishing his place at the core of Jorge Jesus' side. Tipped to succeed Jordi Alba at Barcelona, the 26-year-old defender has amassed widespread acclaim due to his consistent performances.

His exceptional passing and crossing abilities peaked interest from Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who were reportedly keen to bring him to the Etihad this summer. Grimaldo's style of play clearly reflects his La Masia background. With Barcelona currently relying on homegrown talents amidst their monetary crisis, Alex Grimaldo could be an ideal replacement for Jordi Alba.

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#1 Jose Gaya

Gaya is heavily linked with Barcelona to replace Jordi Alba

The player that Barcelona have been linked with the most, Jose Gaya has been touted as Jordi Alba's successor at Camp Nou by several footballing experts. The current Valencia captain is one of the last remaining talents at Mestalla.

Under the stewardship of Peter Lim, the Bats have cheaply lost out on multiple stars, including Dani Parejo, Kangin Lee and Ferran Torres. If reports are to be believed, Jose Gaya is next in line to depart a dwindling Valencia side, with Barcelona being his most likely destination.

The 26-year-old Spaniard will follow in Jordi Alba's footsteps if he chooses to accept an offer from the Catalan giants. Alba, who was a budding youngster in Barcelona's academy, joined the Blaugrana from Valencia in 2012 for a nominal fee of €14 million. Barcelona have the chance to acquire a seasoned superstar in Jose Gaya, who'll settle in perfectly if the proposed deal materializes.

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