The promising chapter between Olympique de Marseille and Argentine defender Leonardo Balerdi is closing, but the final pages are being written with financial headaches for the French club. While both parties have quietly agreed to part ways this summer, a stunning revelation about a rejected multimillion-euro offer has exposed the substantial revenue loss facing the Mediterranean side.
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World Cup dream shattered, Marseille’s plans collapse
The mutual decision to end Balerdi’s Marseille career this summer was meant to be a calculated financial maneuver. Club executives had pinned their hopes on a World Cup 2026 appearance with the Argentine national team to boost the defender’s market value. However, fate intervened dramatically when he suffered a severe calf injury just before the tournament, forcing him to withdraw and derailing the entire revenue strategy.
German giants’ €25m offer rejected by Balerdi
The frustration runs deeper as Marseille had secured what looked like a surefire deal weeks before the transfer window opened. Reliable reports confirmed that Bayer Leverkusen had presented a concrete €25m proposal in spring, complete with easily achievable performance bonuses, to lure the 27-year-old away from Marseille.
Against all expectations, Balerdi himself rejected the German club’s advances. The defender, who had previously played in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund, expressed little enthusiasm about returning to the league, effectively killing the potential deal.
Market value plummets, Marseille forced to slash asking price
The Argentine’s personal decision has delivered a severe blow to Marseille’s financial outlook. Between his World Cup withdrawal and the rejected Leverkusen bid, Balerdi’s market worth has plummeted by €10m in just weeks.
Facing financial pressure and the urgent need to balance the books, the club has been forced to drastically revise its demands. Today, Marseille is settling for offers around €15m – a €10m haircut that stings at a time when every euro counts at the Stade Vélodrome.