If OM refuses all approaches to Leonardo Balerdi, even those at 40 million euros, it is because the club knows that in the event of the 2025-2026 successful season, after the 2026 World Cup, its captain will be able to be much more.
Photo credit: ICON SPORT
Very sought after for several weeks, Leonardo Balerdi panics the market. Juventus, Newcastle and several English clubs have tried their luck to enlist the Argentinian central defender, which comes out of a full season in the Marseille jersey. Certain oral offers would even approach 40 million euros, a colossal amount that could make more than one Ligue 1 club wobble. However, on the OM side, management remains firm: Balerdi will not leave this summer.
A well -tied sales strategy
Captain and undeniable executive of the workforce, Leonardo Balerdi is considered to be a pillar of the project led by Roberto de Zerbi. OM wants to build around him, and sees bigger for the future. The club would have chosen to postpone any sale before the summer of 2026, with a clear strategy: wait until Balerdi shines in the Champions League this season but also during the 2026 World Cup with Argentina. In this context, the 40 million proposed today could very quickly seem derisory, with regard to its potential.
A quit or double …
OM is ready to take the risk. Rather than taking 40 million euros now, Marseille leaders are betting on a file at 60 or 70 million euros in a year. But if Balerdi cracks under the weight of expectations and responsibilities, especially on the European scene, it will be difficult for him to convince a great Europe to offer him a golden armchair.
