Roma must pay double for Balerdi, claim French reports | OneFootball

There are mixed reports in Italy and France on the status of Roma interest in Olympique Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi, with double the asking price.

Their pursuit of the central defender goes all the way back to his time in Argentina as a 19-year-old, with links even when he was still at Boca Juniors in 2018.

Now that he is 26 years old and flourishing at Olympique Marseille, La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that Roma are back in the running and the player has already given the all-clear.

This much is confirmed in France, but the big difference in reporting is that the Italian media points to an offer worth €20m.

Balerdi will cost Roma over €40m

HAMBURG, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 15: Leonardo Balerdi of Marseille looks dejected following the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Knockout Round Play-offs First Leg match between FC Shakhtar Donetsk and Olympique de Marseille at Volksparkstadion on February 15, 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

On the other hand, L’Equipe, RMC Sport and others assure this is an insultingly low figure and his asking price would be closer to €45m.

Balerdi only recently signed a new contract holding him to the club until June 2028, having made the €12m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2020.

He is even their current captain, so it will require a lot more than €20m for Roma to finally get their hands on the Argentine.