Olympique de Marseille faces the potential departure of Leonardo Balerdi. The 26-year-old Argentine central defender is attracting significant interest ahead of the 2025 summer transfer window. Having made 27 appearances in Ligue 1 this season, Balerdi is a key target for Juventus in Turin. The interest is particularly strong from Juventus coach Igor Tudor, who previously managed Balerdi at Marseille.
Coach Tudor is reportedly a strong advocate for bringing Balerdi to Juventus, viewing him as a crucial defensive asset. Juventus is exploring various approaches to persuade the Marseille management to sanction the transfer. One potential strategy under consideration involves proposing a player exchange deal.
Potential players who could be involved in a swap deal reportedly include 27-year-old defender Nico Gonzalez, who has 26 Serie A appearances and 3 goals, and 21-year-old Samuel Mbangula, with 23 league appearances and 3 goals. Meanwhile, Marseille`s new coach, Roberto De Zerbi, has also expressed interest in Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli. However, Locatelli is considered non-transferable by the Turin club.