Leonardo Balerdi rejects an offer of 25 million euros from Bayer Leverkusen and stays at OM
By OnzeActu · · 2 min read
Leonardo Balerdi turned down a €25 million transfer offer from Bayer Leverkusen this spring. The Argentine defender preferred to honor his commitment to Olympique de Marseille until 2028, despite the club's delicate financial situation.
Olympique de Marseille is going through a delicate financial period as it will have to make sales this summer to balance its accounts. This Wednesday, the Marseille club appears before the DNCG, the financial control body of French football, to justify its situation. However, despite this need to sell, no concrete offer has yet been placed on the desk of Marseille leaders, whether for English winger Mason Greenwood, highly appreciated by Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma, or for other players.
Leonardo Balerdi, a 27-year-old Argentinian defender, nevertheless received a notable offer during the spring period. Bayer Leverkusen, a German club accustomed to European competitions, has made an offer of 25 million euros plus bonus to secure his services. Despite the interesting sporting challenge offered, notably participation in the Europa League, Balerdi declined this opportunity.
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Currently under contract with OM until 2028, and coached by Carles Martinez Novell, former coach of Toulouse, the defender preferred to remain loyal to his club. This decision was reinforced by a personal blow: a calf muscle problem that occurred in the Argentine selection on the eve of the World Cup, which forced him to give up the world competition.
This situation illustrates the financial and sporting challenges that Olympique de Marseille is facing, with key players choosing stability despite attractive offers, in a context where the club must imperatively strengthen its finances before next season.