The Spartak press office chief, Dmitry Zelenov, addressed the appearance of a cryptic post on striker Keith Balde’s social networks. The message featured a circus tent emoji and a clown emoji, which drew quick attention from fans and media alike.
Baldes’ representatives spoke up to clarify the matter. They stated that the post has nothing to do with Spartak and does not reflect anything connected to the club. As understood, the message was directed at Italian media and pertained to Balde’s private life, rather than his professional duties at Spartak.
Questions about a potential rift between Balde and coach Guillermo Abascal did surface briefly. The agent indicated that there is no unresolved conflict, echoing the same assessment that the club’s leadership had offered. In remarks carried by Sport Express, Zelenov reinforced the point that the situation did not involve a dispute with the team or its coaching staff.
Meanwhile, Balde’s involvement with the first team came under discussion. He had not been part of Spartak’s starting XI for several matches, a situation the club and the coach described as a matter of selection and form rather than punishment or estrangement. Abascal stressed that Balde needed to prove his place in training, and the player subsequently issued the public post in question, which the club deemed unrelated to his football obligations.
During the winter period, rumors extended beyond club boundaries. It was reported that Balde may have had a personal connection with Wanda Nara, the ex-wife of Mauro Icardi, who is a midfielder for Galatasaray, a detail that attracted significant media attention. Reports suggested Nara traveled to Dubai, where Spartak conducted training camps, and stayed in the same hotel as Balde. These claims were presented as social-me dia chatter rather than statements from the club or the player, and they were treated with caution by those close to Balde.
Former representatives of Balde added that they believed such stories were being amplified for attention, particularly after comments from Abascal about the player. They asserted that the clown emoji referenced in the original post was a symbolic gesture understood in certain social circles, and they insisted that no real animosity existed between Balde and the coaching staff. The public exchange did little to clarify matters, leaving fans to read between the lines and form their own conclusions about the player’s status within Spartak and his personal life, all while the club maintained its stance of focusing on football matters and professional conduct. (Sport Express)