Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde couldn’t hide his joy after watching Ansu Fati return to the starting lineup against Mallorca. The young left-back, beaming with pride, said, “I am happy that Ansu started against Mallorca. He did very well. He is like a brother to me.”
It wasn’t just a teammate talking about another teammate—it was personal. The two have grown up through La Masia, Barcelona’s famed youth academy. They’ve trained side by side, matured together under the pressure of elite football, and leaned on each other during the tough moments, especially when injuries threatened to derail their young careers.
Ansu Fati’s struggles have been no secret. From being hailed as the next big thing to enduring multiple injuries, it’s been a tough ride. Balde has witnessed that journey firsthand. Seeing him start, and more importantly, play well, meant a lot. His words weren’t rehearsed—they came from a place of shared experience and deep friendship.
For Barcelona fans, it’s moments like these that restore faith in the club’s future. Not just because of talent on the pitch, but because of the brotherhood off it.
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