Olympique de Marseille have received a significant boost ahead of their crucial Champions League encounter with Newcastle United, with captain Leonardo Balerdi returning from a calf injury to bolster their defensive line.
From Protested Signing to Club Captain
The Argentine centre-back's journey in Marseille has been anything but straightforward. Arriving in 2021 with minimal senior experience from spells at Boca Juniors and Borussia Dortmund, Balerdi faced immediate pressure at a club where passion runs deep.
During his early days, a supporter staged a hunger strike outside the club's training ground protesting his continued selection after mistakes in defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Annecy. "I learned and grew a lot mentally during these years," reflects the 26-year-old. "Whatever happened, I knew I couldn't let things get to me, or at least not as much."
Evolution Under Tudor and De Zerbi's Revolution
Balerdi's transformation began under former manager Igor Tudor, who instilled crucial mental strength. "He trusted me a lot," Balerdi acknowledges. "He changed me mentally. That shift started with him."
The chaotic 2023-24 season saw three managers pass through the club, but Balerdi's leadership provided stability. "By then I knew what it meant to play for Marseille," he says. "Even with everything happening outside, I knew what I had to give the team: consistency and confidence for my teammates."
When Roberto De Zerbi arrived this summer, he immediately contacted Balerdi. "The message and his words really moved me. I said to myself: This is going to be something special."
Playing centre-back in a De Zerbi system presents unique challenges, requiring defenders to build play like midfielders. "He asked me to do things no other coach had," Balerdi reveals. "We're always focused on finding space, waiting for pressure to come and then finding the third man."
Defensive Reinforcements and World Cup Dreams
After a difficult opening day defeat to Rennes that sparked a dressing-room altercation, Marseille strengthened significantly with defensive signings including Benjamin Pavard, Facundo Medina, and Emerson Palmieri.
Balerdi played a key role in welcoming Pavard, noting: "From the first training sessions, you could feel the mutual understanding. If one of us makes a mistake, we feel like we have each other's back."
The strengthened defence has propelled Marseille to second in Ligue 1, including a historic victory over PSG at home for the first time in 14 years.
Beyond club ambitions, Balerdi eyes a place in Argentina's World Cup squad. "My objective is to go to the World Cup. It would be a dream to win something with the national team," he states with conviction.
Competition is fierce, but his performances have put him in contention. He maintains a good relationship with national team coach Lionel Scaloni, describing him as "relaxed and doesn't speak too much, but when he does, he's precise."
For now, Balerdi's focus remains on Marseille's European campaign and the belief that everything else will follow - a quiet assurance born from surviving the hardest moments this passionate club and city can deliver.
