Defense was seldom an issue for Roma last season and certainly didn’t cause any headaches in last week’s 4-0 victory over Fiorentina, but that hasn’t stopped the club from seeking upgrades. While much of the summer’s transfer attention has focused on improving the club’s attack, Roma has invested equally in its defense, signing Nahuel Molina and Konstantinos Koulierakis last month.
As we head into the final days of silly season, it seems like Tony D’Amico is crossing off one final defensive item from the club’s wishlist. With Jan Ziółkowski heading off to Monza on loan with an option to buy, Roma is moving quickly to find his replacement—and may have even found a substantial upgrade.
According to multiple sources in Italy, Roma is set to acquire Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi on a €1 million loan, with an option to buy that becomes mandatory under certain conditions. Balerdi, a 27-year-old center-back from Villa Mercedes, Argentina, began his career with Boca Juniors before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2019. Although he made only seven Bundesliga appearances, Balerdi found a home in Marseille.
Since arriving in the south of France in the summer of 2020, Balerdi has been a mainstay at the Vélodrome, logging nearly 200 appearances across all competitions and adding six goals and two assists. A 6’2” right-footed center-back, Balerdi was among the best defenders in Ligue 1 last season, ranking in the 70th percentile or higher in several categories, including defensive contributions, recoveries, and clearances.
Time will tell where Balerdi falls in Gasperini’s defensive rotation, but his experience suggests he may be the top option off the bench.
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