According to Radio Rivadavia journalist, Julio Pavoni, Borussia Dortmund are on the verge of offloading Leonardo Balerdi. The young centre-back is expected to join Olympique Marseille in a season-long loan deal this summer, with the French club also having an option to make the deal permanent. Balerdi’s previous club, BOCA Juniors, should also share 10% of the total revenue generated by the transfer.
Leonardo Balerdi’s struggles at Borussia Dortmund
Balerdi initially joined Borussia Dortmund back in January 2019. He was then regarded as one of the most talented defenders in South American football, having enjoyed a lot of success at BOCA Juniors. However, 18 months into his career in Germany, the youngster has failed to make a breakthrough at Borussia Dortmund.
Indeed, Balerdi has struggled with a lack of game-time under Lucien Favre, who has appeared unwilling to give him the opportunity to shine at the highest level of football. The young Argentine is believed to have failed to impress the Dortmund head coach in training. As a result, he has featured in only eight competitive matches for the Black and Yellows, only one of which was a start.
As a matter of fact, even makeshift centre-back Emre Can and veteran right-back Lukasz Piszczek have been preferred over Balerdi this campaign.
Should Dortmund offload Balerdi this summer?
It is fair to say that Bundesliga hasn’t been a success story for the 21-year-old so far. But, with the new season just around the corner, the German giants must get rid of their problems in defence if they are to compete with Bayern Munich for the league title truly.
One of those problems is the over-reliance on ageing figures like Mats Hummels and Piszczek. With Manuel Akanji and Dan-Axel Zagadou not being able to provide consistent performances, Balerdi, on paper, should stay at Dortmund.
On the flip side, however, Die Schwarzgelben are looking for better alternatives in the market too, notably being linked with a move for Norwich City star Ben Godfrey. The English centre-back should be an interesting option for the Black and Yellows next season.
As for Balerdi, a move away from Signal Iduna Park this summer is indeed the more logical move. The Argentine should receive more game-time, which could be essential towards his development while Dortmund themselves will hope that the youngster can shine in Ligue 1 next term. Overall, it is a logical move for all parties involved.
