Juventus Pursue Balerdi as European Clubs Join Race
Juventus have come back to an old idea. Leonardo Balerdi, the defender they tried to prise from Olympique Marseille in the summer of 2025, is once again high on their list.
Back then, Marseille slammed the door. No fee, no negotiation, no exit. Balerdi stayed put in Ligue 1 and Juventus moved on.
This summer looks different.
Marseille ready to listen – and Europe takes notice
At the end of the current season, Marseille are understood to be open to offers for the Argentine, a shift that has immediately reawakened Juventus’ interest. Inside the Turin club, the change of stance is seen as an opportunity they cannot ignore, and plans are already being shaped for a fresh push in the next window.
The landscape, though, has changed around them.
Juventus will not find a clear path this time. Across Europe, several clubs are tracking Balerdi’s situation, turning what was once a one-on-one negotiation into a full-scale race. The pressure around his future has risen, and so has the level of competition.
According to Tuttojuve, Roma and Atlético Madrid have now joined the chase. Both clubs are studying the defender closely as they look to reinforce their back lines, keeping tabs on Marseille’s willingness to sell and readying themselves in case the door truly opens.
Juventus banking on relationships – and patience
Juventus still believe they can win it.
The Bianconeri are confident that their existing relationship with Marseille can count for something when talks begin in earnest. That link, built over previous dealings, is seen in Turin as a potential edge in a crowded field, a way to keep dialogue smooth and to stay near the front of the queue.
But goodwill alone will not be enough. Juventus also have to look inward.
Their summer will be shaped by balance sheets as much as by tactics. Player sales may be required before they can lodge a serious bid for Balerdi, forcing the club to juggle outgoing deals with the timing of any formal move. Act too late and a rival could strike; act too early and the squad structure suffers.
Balerdi holds the key
One element stands above all: the player’s choice.
While the clubs line up their strategies, the expectation is that Balerdi himself will carry huge weight in the final decision. His view of the projects on offer, his sense of where his career should go next, is likely to steer the entire saga.
Juventus, Roma, Atlético Madrid and any other late arrivals can position themselves, talk up their ambitions and lean on relationships. In the end, though, it will be Balerdi who decides which badge he wants on his chest when the new season kicks off.
