Roma Close to Loan Deal for Leonardo Balerdi
The move would let Roma shore up their defence while Marseille accepts a conditional sale to raise cash and cut wages.
Overview
- Roma and Marseille have agreed terms in principle for Balerdi to join on an initial one-season loan pending the player’s medical and registration.
- Reported financials put the loan fee at about €1–2 million with a buy clause of roughly €12–15 million that could make the transfer cost about €15–16 million in total.
- The purchase clause is conditional and reportedly converts to an obligation if Balerdi meets appearance and minutes thresholds and if Roma qualify for European competition.
- Marseille’s willingness to accept a lower, conditional package reflects pressure to sell players and trim the wage bill after previously seeking around €30 million for Balerdi.
- Balerdi brings dual Argentine-Italian citizenship, 11 senior Argentina caps, and would become Roma’s fifth Argentine, a move that reshapes the club’s defensive options if the medical clears him.