Balerdi Benched: De Zerbi Demands More From Marseille Captain

Olympique de Marseille captain Leonardo Balerdi has found himself on the bench for the team's last two fixtures, with coach Roberto De Zerbi making it clear this is a deliberate decision. Despite the player's return from injury, Nayef Aguerd has been preferred, even with his own fitness concerns.

De Zerbi stated that Balerdi is physically fit and that his absence from the starting lineup is a choice driven by the coach's desire for the player to improve. He expressed his personal affection for Balerdi but stressed the need for him to reach another level, deciding whether he wants to become a truly great player.

Balerdi himself has acknowledged the competitive environment at Marseille and his understanding of potentially being dropped. He also shared his significant ambition to represent Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a dream he is focused on achieving.