Balerdi set to leave: Roma finalizes recruitment with OM

Leonardo Balerdi is set to leave Olympique de Marseille before the close of the summer transfer window, with Roma having entered concrete discussions with the Phocaean club to finalize his transfer.

According to journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Roma’s executives have made contact with OM to reach an agreement, with the Argentine defender being preferred over Morocco’s Nayef Aguerd on the club’s defensive targets list. Pedulla notes that Balerdi has already given his personal approval to Roma.

The Marseille context makes this departure logical for both sides. Balerdi was heavily booed by supporters during the last warm-up match, and OM is seeking to reduce its wage bill while generating revenue before the market closes. A transfer would allow the club to tick both boxes simultaneously.

For the player, the destination is attractive: Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma will compete in the Ligue des Champions this season, and the Italian coach’s 3-4-3 system offers genuine prospects of playing time in a three-man defense. The former Borussia Dortmund player, who arrived in Marseille in 2020, would return to Serie A.

The operation looks less favorable for Bruno Genesio, however, who would see a center-back depart who could occupy a starting role in his setup. The Marseille coach will have to manage with a reshuffled squad just days before the start of the season.