Balerdi introduces himself: “I chose Roma for the passion. Gasperini already wanted me at Atalanta.” | OneFootball

Leonardo Balerdi’s first words as a Roma player.

The Argentine defender introduces himself to his new fans and recounts the emotions he’s experienced since arriving in the capital.

The welcome struck him immediately: “First of all, happiness, but also tranquility, because from the moment I arrived here, they welcomed me with joy, in a very beautiful way.”

Behind his decision to join the Giallorossi, there’s something long-standing.

Balerdi explains that he was fascinated by the Roma jersey as a child, even before getting to know the club and the passion of its fans: “Many things have inspired me, but first and foremost, I’ve always had something with this jersey. When I was little and saw it, I said, ‘It’s beautiful.’ I loved it so much, and that’s why I wanted to play here. Then I got to know the club, the fans, and I saw all this passion. I wanted to be here, I wanted to play here after seeing all this. I can only thank the club for their trust and, of course, all the staff. I want to get to know everyone, including the players, because I haven’t had the time yet. I also thank the fans who greeted me at the airport.”

What was also striking during his first interview was his good knowledge of Italian. A familiarity with the language stems primarily from his family: “I speak French, obviously Spanish, Argentinean, a little English, and also Italian thanks to my mother and my girlfriend. My girlfriend is Italian, and my mother was an Italian teacher, teaching kids in Argentina. So I’ve listened to it all my life. I don’t speak it a lot, but I speak a little. I’ve also had many coaches who spoke to me in Italian, and I think that helped me. It’s also similar to Spanish.”

The conversation then shifts to Roma’s long Argentine tradition. Balerdi demonstrates his knowledge of the city and cites some of his compatriots who preceded him in the capital: “Dybala, Paredes, Gabriel Heinze, Walter Samuel, Batistuta.”

But among his most notable influences is another former Giallorossi player, Fernando Gago. As a child, Balerdi dreamed of playing in midfield: “It’s a different story, because when I was little, I wanted to play in midfield. My idol was Fernando Gago, who played here. He was one of my idols as a child, along with Messi and Riquelme, also because I’m a Boca fan. But Fernando was one of my role models because I wanted to play like him. I loved him so much, and as a kid, I saved so many photos of Gago wearing this jersey. Incredible.”

After Boca Juniors, Borussia Dortmund, and Marseille, now it’s Roma’s turn. Balerdi already knows the Olimpico, but is waiting to finally see him on the Giallorossi side: “Yes, I’ve been here before, but we’ve played against other teams at the Olimpico. That’s why I want to get to know him properly now.”

In the capital, he’ll also meet Gian Piero Gasperini, who had already tried to bring him to Atalanta: “We’ve had some contact, but not directly. I also know he contacted me when he was coaching Atalanta. Now I’ll have the chance to work with him; I’ve heard great things about him, and I want to start right away.”