Leonardo Balerdi has posted a farewell message to Olympique de Marseille nearly two weeks after his arrival at Roma. In an emotional social media statement, the defender thanked the club, its supporters and staff for his time in France, where he made 200 appearances and served as captain.
"This day had to come," Balerdi wrote. "I leave my home, a special place that will hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life. A place that welcomed me and saw me grow over the years. From that twenty-one-year-old with only a few professional matches to my name, to the day I had the honour and pride of becoming captain of this great club and wearing its shirt, so special to me, 200 times. Marseille is a unique city. Sometimes it makes you feel like you're flying, other times it makes you feel the exact opposite. It hasn't always been perfect, but that's also part of what makes this place so special and makes you feel alive."
Bareldi expressed particular gratitude to the Vélodrome crowd, calling them "a unique public that never stops encouraging us, spurring us to never give up. You are always present for the club, sometimes putting your lives aside for this great society, and you make the Vélodrome one of the most legendary stadiums in the world." He also thanked the Marseille hierarchy, coaching staff, teammates and employees behind the scenes, describing them as "incredible professionals and, above all, extraordinary people."
He concluded: "I leave with a clear conscience, certain that I gave everything, to the last drop of sweat, physically and mentally, for this club that I love so much. I gave my best, just as you do every weekend and as every Marseille person does in their daily life. Marseille and Olympique de Marseille, thank you, thank you and thank you again. I will be the first to celebrate with you."
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Leonardo Balerdi has posted an emotional farewell to Olympique Marseille following his summer move to AS Roma. The Argentine defender, who made 200 appearances for the French club and served as captain, shared a detailed message thanking the institution, its supporters, staff and teammates for his time in the south of France. Both Roma News and Forza Roma covered the announcement, with Balerdi expressing deep sentiment about leaving what he described as his home. He has already featured in Roma's opening two matches under manager Gian Piero Gasperini, coming off the bench in both appearances.
Balerdi arrived at Marseille as a 21-year-old with limited professional experience and progressed through the ranks to eventually captain the club, making the departure particularly significant. In his message, he emphasised the unique character of both the city and the Vélodrome crowd, acknowledging that "sometimes it makes you fly to touch the sky, and sometimes it makes you feel exactly the opposite." He praised the supporters for their unwavering commitment, describing them as "a unique crowd, who never stop cheering" and crediting them with making the Vélodrome "one of the most mythical stadiums in the world." Balerdi concluded by expressing his gratitude to the hierarchy, coaching staff and behind-the-scenes employees, stating he left "with a peaceful spirit, with the certainty of having given everything" to the club he loves.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“A quasi due settimane di distanza dal suo arrivo a Roma, Leonardo Balerdi ha pubblicato un post social in cui ha voluto salutare e ringraziare il Marsiglia e i tifosi dell'OM con un lungo ed emozionante messaggio. Questa la sua lettera:
"Questo messaggio è per tutti i marsigliesi. Questo giorno…”
Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.