PROFILE | Marseille’s Leonardo Balerdi wears the armband but challenged to reach the next level | OneFootball

When Leonardo Balerdi arrived at Olympique de Marseille in 2021, he did so with raw potential but little senior experience. Five appearances for Boca Juniors and seven for Borussia Dortmund were thin foundations for life at France’s most volatile club. Mistakes in high-profile defeats, a persistent shoulder injury, and even a supporter-led hunger strike against his inclusion underlined how quickly the Vélodrome can turn.

“I learned and grew a lot mentally during these years,” Balerdi admitted in an interview with GFFN. “Whatever happened, I knew I couldn’t let things get to me.” Marseille, he explained, is a club that demands immediate results, even when circumstances suggest patience is required.

The turning point came under Igor Tudor, whose trust reshaped Balerdi’s confidence and aggression. That mental transformation carried him through the chaos of the 2023/24 season, when three coaches passed through the dugout. Amid instability, Balerdi emerged as a reference point on the pitch and was eventually handed the captain’s armband.

“By then I knew what it meant to play for Marseille,” he said. “What I had to give the team was consistency and confidence.” His leadership style is understated and empathetic, shaped by his own difficult beginnings. “I’m better one-to-one, giving players confidence – because I needed that myself.”

Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival elevated Balerdi tactically. As Marseille’s central defender, he became a key figure in building from deep, drawing pressure and finding progression lanes – responsibilities closer to those of a midfielder. “He asked me to do things no other coach had,” Balerdi explained. 

Balerdi dropped in crucial World Cup year

Yet this season has introduced a new tension. Since returning from injury, Balerdi has found himself benched in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League, with Nayef Aguerd preferred even while managing fitness issues ahead of AFCON. Roberto De Zerbi has been explicit that the decision is tactical rather than physical. 

“Leo is fine physically. It annoys me to leave him on the bench because I love him a lot,” the Italian said after a win over Monaco. “But he knows why. He needs to go to another level. He needs to decide whether he wants to become a great player, and not just a player with great potential – with and without the ball.”

Beyond Marseille, another dream looms. “My objective is to go to the World Cup,” Balerdi said. With Argentina’s centre-back depth fierce, consistency at club level is non-negotiable. The next six months for the Argentine will come as decisive, both at club level and with his hopes to make the 2026 World Cup. 

GFFN | George Boxall