Barcelona lost their first preseason friendly vs Arsenal. However, Balde and Abde did very well. The latter gave Xavi something to think about.
Abde
Ez Abde, the Moroccan International, showed his qualities against fully prepared Arsenal. He was out on loan last season to gain experience. It seems that the loan worked out as he matured as a player. He gave his all in the pitch today. Today he showed that he can be trusted in the left flank. He’s putting in extra effort and hardwork to become the next successor of Neymar in the LW. It won’t be wrong to say that he convinced Xavi and the hierarchy, not to sell him, despite having lucrative offers from PL Clubs. Xavi trusts him and counts on him for the next season. With his performance and fierce dribbling he’s ready for the next season. He cooked Arsenal’s defence to assist the opener, scored by Lewandowski.
Balde
Balde, the La Masia Prodigy, who replaced Jordi Alba last season in the starting 11 seemed to have recovered from his injury. As it seems, he’s set to become the next successor of Jordi Alba. After the Catalan Legend left the club last season, it was a serious question among the critics whether Balde would be able to replace him or not. But the young lad silenced his haters by keeping English sensation Bukayo Saka in his pocket during the friendly against Arsenal. He’s set to become the Key Player of the First Team at the tender age of 19. Xavi trusts him and it won’t be wrong to state that he stood up on his coach’s trust. He alongside Ansu Fati showed good linkup play during the 2nd half. With his pace and defensive abilities, Barca can rely upon him to be the starter in the 2023-24 season.
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