Alejandro Balde injury could benefit Jofre Torrents at Barcelona

The Spanish international has been ruled out for at least three weeks, leaving him sidelined for a crucial run of fixtures in La Liga and the Champions League.

Coach Hansi Flick admitted that Balde's absence is a setback but insisted the squad have players ready to step in. "We will miss Alejandro because he gives us balance on the left, but this is also an opportunity for others to show their quality," Flick said.

One of those players could be 19-year-old Jofre Torrents, who has impressed throughout pre-season with his tactical discipline and maturity. A La Masia product, Torrents was promoted to Barca Atletic last season and has already caught the eye of the first-team staff.

Although Gerard Martin, who made his season debut against Rayo Vallecano, is expected to start in Balde's place, Flick may turn to Torrents as an understudy. The coach has also tested Martin in a left-sided centre-back role, a move that could open the door for Torrents to slot naturally into the left-back position.

Juliano Belletti, who manages Barca Atletic and previously coached Torrents at U19 level, spoke highly of the youngster's progress. "Jofre is intelligent, consistent, and never afraid of responsibility. He has the mentality to play for the first team," Belletti said.

For now, Torrents remains registered with Barca Atletic, wearing the number 17 shirt, but with Balde out, his promotion could come sooner than expected.