Leonardo Balerdi fights to keep OM starting role as De Zerbi backs his captain | OneFootball

In an increasingly competitive back line, OM captain Leonardo Balerdi is no longer an automatic pick, although Roberto De Zerbi has dismissed talk of any downgrade. He is expected to start against PSG in the Trophée des champions on Thursday at 19:00.

The year opened much like it ended for Balerdi, with frustration and questions. L'Équipe reports that the 26-year-old pulled out on the eve of Sunday’s 0-2 home defeat by Nantes after a virus that had already weakened several team-mates.

December had already chipped at his status. He started on the bench against Union Saint-Gilloise, 3-2, in the Champions League on 9 December, then again against Monaco, 1-0, in Ligue 1 on 14 December.

De Zerbi has publicly backed his captain, insisting there is no Balerdi case and that he remains skipper. He calls his potential enormous and is pushing him to improve, even embracing him before a late December session.

Balerdi said on Wednesday his manager wants him to talk to team-mates, control the ball and organise the side. He added that personality must be shown every weekend, in a final against Paris and in games like Nantes.

Elevated as a symbol of Marseille’s project last summer and extended to 2028, he took the armband in the off-season. His speed suits a high line, while arrivals Nayef Aguerd, Benjamin Pavard, Facundo Medina and CJ Egan-Riley have raised competition. The immediate task in Kuwait City is to contain Ousmane Dembélé and his team-mates.

Source: L'Équipe