Several players at Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have received limited playing time this season, leaving their futures uncertain as the approaching winter transfer window draws closer.
A report by the Spanish newspaper Marca has put the spotlight on Alejandro Balde, Brahim Diaz, Rodrigo Mendoza and Endrick as four players who are not getting the minutes they expected before the season kicked off.
Alejandro Balde’s situation at Barcelona
Alejandro Balde is described as living through a spell at Barcelona that looks like the end of a once-ideal relationship with the club. He has played just 100 minutes in La Liga this season, with his longest outing coming in the Clasico when he came on for roughly an hour after Espart’s injury.
On the right side of Barcelona’s defence, Eric Garcia is described as first choice with Kounde injured, while Farinas is next in line. On the left, Balde sits behind the currently injured Espart and Cancelo, who can cover both flanks, with Gerard Martin another option. Hansi Flick has aimed public criticism at Balde’s level.
Balde chose to stay at Barcelona over the summer, and the approaching winter window may open the door to fresh developments in his situation.
Brahim Diaz’s limited role at Real Madrid
Brahim Diaz has managed only 149 minutes in the league this season. Jose Mourinho has so far seen nothing from Diaz to make him rethink his choices.
In the playmaker role at Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler are ahead of Diaz in the competition for places. Diaz’s chances look little better out near the wing than in the playmaker role, although he is not described as frozen out completely and Mourinho has not written him off.
If things carry on as they are for Diaz, talk of his future will grow louder in the coming weeks.
Endrick protected by Champions League displays
Endrick has managed just 84 minutes in the league this season. His standout displays across a number of UEFA Champions League matches are described as protecting him in his current situation.
Endrick was deployed leaning towards the right and proved an important part of his side’s comeback against Roma. He also contributed clearly in his side’s last match against Athens. His loan spell with Lyon last season gave him the stage to show his quality. Endrick’s form at Lyon earned him a call-up from Carlo Ancelotti for the last World Cup.
Several clubs will track Endrick’s situation over the coming weeks.
Rodrigo Mendoza waits at Atletico Madrid
Rodrigo Mendoza is at Atletico Madrid. Atletico Madrid signed him from Elche in the last winter window for 16 million euros, with add-ons that could push the fee up by a further four million.
Mendoza is described as technically gifted and as a Spain under-21 international who earned the trust of Eder Sarabia, but he has so far failed to win over Diego Simeone. He has played only 144 minutes this season for Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid’s midfield has been hit by injuries, with Koke, Barrios and Cardoso among the injured players mentioned. Mendoza is waiting for the coming weeks to tell him whether his chances will improve at Atletico Madrid. Simeone is described as seeming to favour a different type of midfielder, which does Mendoza no favours.
Mendoza was seen one year ago as a strongly rising talent. With the winter window closing in, he could become a target for clubs hunting a player who can hand them more minutes and quality. Balde, Diaz, Endrick and Mendoza remain hard to call, and running out of patience may shift the path of one of them.
