The fairytale between Olympique de Marseille and Argentine defender Leonardo Balerdi is reaching its bitter end, but the final act is exposing painful financial wounds for the French club.

World Cup dream dashed, transfer plans collapse

The anticipated separation between OM and Balerdi was mutually agreed upon during the summer transfer window. Club executives had strategically planned to leverage the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup as the perfect showcase to maximize the Argentine’s market value. The strategy seemed foolproof—until fate intervened brutally. Just days before joining the Albiceleste squad, Balerdi suffered a severe calf injury that sidelined him from the tournament, instantly derailing Pablo Longoria’s financial blueprint.

Bayer Leverkusen’s €25M offer rejected by player

The club’s financial setback deepened when confidential sources revealed that Bayer Leverkusen had tabled a concrete €25 million bid in early spring, complete with easily attainable performance-related bonuses. The German side was prepared to finalize the deal for the 27-year-old defender, a former Borussia Dortmund player.

To everyone’s surprise, Balerdi himself vetoed the proposal. The Villa Mercedes native showed little enthusiasm for returning to the Bundesliga, effectively blocking the move despite the lucrative financial package.

Market value plummets, OM forced to slash asking price

The defender’s decision and subsequent World Cup withdrawal created a perfect storm for Marseille’s finances. Within weeks, Balerdi’s market worth collapsed, forcing OM to abandon its original valuation. Now, the club has been compelled to drastically reduce its demands, settling for a mere €15 million—a steep €10 million write-down that couldn’t have come at a worse time for the cash-strapped Canebière-based side.