Pep Guardiola tries his luck again, second call to Deco: 'I'd like to sign...'

Pep Guardiola experienced one of the most challenging seasons of his managerial career last year. Despite investing more than €200 million ($200 million) in signings, Manchester City was on the verge of missing out on the Champions League. Only a brilliant final run allowed the team to finish third and save a year that could have been catastrophic.

The fans celebrated that European qualification as if it were a title, hopeful that the new season would offer stability and results. However, the start of the Premier League has brought doubts back to Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola's team is in fifth place and has only won four of the seven matches played so far.

Defensive weakness worries Pep Guardiola

The main problem for Manchester City lies in the defensive fragility shown since August. Guardiola doesn't have a natural left-back and has had to improvise by placing young Nico O’Reilly in that position. The result hasn't convinced either the coaching staff or English supporters.

For that reason, Pep Guardiola has decided to look for solutions outside the club. His first option has been to contact Deco, sporting director of Barça, to explore a complex operation. In that conversation, the Catalan coach has once again asked for information about a long-desired target: Alejandro Balde.

Alejandro Balde, Pep Guardiola's desired target

In 2023 Manchester City already tried to sign Alejandro Balde taking advantage of Barça's financial problems. However, Deco then managed to stop the operation and secured the player with a new long-term contract. Today, with Barça's finances healthier and the footballer more established, the transfer seems almost impossible.

Even so, Pep Guardiola doesn't give up easily. He believes that Alejandro Balde possesses the ideal technical and physical qualities for his play style. His speed, ability to break lines, and tactical solidity make him a perfect fit for Manchester City's system.

Deco's task now will be to keep control of the situation and avoid any distractions in the locker room. The club conveys calm and fully trusts Alejandro Balde's continuity as an essential piece for the future. Meanwhile, the player hasn't shown any intention of leaving Camp Nou in the short term.