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Barcelona 'change their mind over Jordi Alba future'

Barcelona 'change their mind over Jordi Alba future'
© Reuters
Jordi Alba convinces the Barcelona board to keep him at the club until the end of his contract, which expires in June 2024, according to a report.

Jordi Alba has reportedly convinced the Barcelona board to keep him at the club until the end of his contract.

The 33-year-old has lost his regular starting role at Camp Nou during the 2022-23 campaign due to the development of Alejandro Balde and addition of Marcos Alonso.

Alba has still made 12 appearances for the Catalan giants this term, though, including 10 outings in La Liga.

There have been claims that Barcelona are keen to move Alba on either in January or next summer in order to remove his high wages from the budget.

However, according to Relevo, Alba will now see out his deal at the club, which is due to run until June 2024.

Jordi Alba in action for Barcelona on February 6, 2022© Reuters

The report claims that the experienced defender's reaction to being dropped has impressed the club's coaching staff, while he has helped Balde transition into a regular first-team player.

Alba is also said to be one of the 'best-liked players in the dressing room', which has convinced senior figures at Barcelona that he should stay for the next 18 months before leaving on a free transfer.

"The veterans help us. Jordi Alba plays in my position and always has advice for me. He told me the other day about how the players are positioned differently for Spain," Balde said earlier this season.

"When there are people in the same position, outsiders see it as a war, but it isn't. It's just healthy competition."

Alba was a key player for Spain at the 2022 World Cup, providing three assists in four appearances, but he could not help his side progress past the round of 16.

Jordi Alba in action for Barcelona in December 2021© Reuters

The defender has represented Barcelona on 441 occasions in all competitions, contributing 25 goals and 95 assists in the process.

Meanwhile, he has enjoyed huge success in terms of trophies, winning five La Liga titles, five Copa del Rey crowns and the Champions League.

Alba has started four of Barcelona's last five La Liga matches, including their last three against Valencia, Almeria and Osasuna ahead of the break for the World Cup.

Inter Milan were heavily linked with the Spain international during the summer, and there were suggestions that Barcelona had been actively looking to sell him to the Italian giants.

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Written by
Matt Law

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Spain's Alejandro Balde pictured in action at the World Cup on November 23, 2022
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11Real Sociedad27104132328-534
12Getafe2789102322133
13GironaGirona2796123540-533
14Osasuna2671273237-533
15Espanyol2677122537-1228
16Valencia2769123045-1527
17Leganes2769122440-1627
18AlavesAlaves2768133040-1026
19Las PalmasLas Palmas2766153045-1524
20Real ValladolidValladolid2744191862-4416


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