Leverkusen approach rebuffed
Leonardo Balerdi rejected a move to Bayer Leverkusen earlier this year despite the Bundesliga side submitting a bid exceeding €25 million plus bonuses. The Argentine defender, who began the campaign as Olympique de Marseille captain, was not keen on switching to Germany. Consequently, the proposed transfer did not go through.
Leverkusen’s interest demonstrated the regard in which the 27-year-old is held across Europe, yet his reluctance to leave France forced Marseille to retain a player they had marked for sale. Although the deal collapsed in the spring, the Ligue 1 club still expect Balerdi to depart eventually. However, the ongoing World Cup is slowing any potential deal, with clubs distracted by the tournament and Balerdi himself unavailable.
Financial pressures mount
Marseille are working under severe financial constraints as they attempt to avoid a UEFA ban. European football’s governing body has handed the club a suspended sentence, meaning they must raise sufficient funds and improve their accounts by next summer or face exclusion from continental competition. The urgency is heightened by the fact that failure to meet these financial targets would not only bar them from European competition but also restrict their ability to attract top talent in future windows.
To satisfy these demands, the French outfit are looking to sell valuable assets. Mason Greenwood, the former Manchester United forward, is considered the most bankable asset, with AS Roma showing interest. Yet Greenwood is proving difficult to sell, which increases the pressure to find buyers for other senior players such as Balerdi.
Injury blow and World Cup absence
Balerdi’s immediate transfer prospects are further complicated by a calf injury. The setback has ruled him out of the FIFA World Cup despite his initial inclusion in the Argentina squad. The defender will play no part in the tournament, and his unavailability is limiting Marseille’s ability to finalise a sale while the summer window progresses.
With the club under strict instructions to balance the books before the deadline, Marseille remain open to offers for the centre-back. A departure is still expected once the World Cup concludes and the defender returns to full fitness.