Balerdi Deal Structure: €14m, €11m or €9m – The Marseille Redemption Clauses Explained

Inter have tracked several Roma players across multiple transfer windows, with some coming closer to a move than others. Mile Svilar was a target in summer 2025 before he renewed his contract with Roma, while contacts were made with Gianluca Mancini's representatives in early July when his deal was set to expire in 2027. Nahuel Molina was examined as a possible replacement for Dumfries, and in spring Inter president Marotta considered Lorenzo Pellegrini as an option. The most serious pursuit came in summer 2025 when director Ausilio agreed a deal with Roma's then sporting director Massara for Manu Koné on 15 August—reportedly worth 40 million euros plus bonuses—but Roma's ownership halted the transfer following supporter unrest. Paulo Dybala represents perhaps the most intriguing near-miss. In June 2022, fresh from leaving Juventus, his agent secured an agreement with Inter for a contract worth 6 million euros. The move collapsed when Inter owner Zhang hesitated, head coach Simone Inzaghi harboured doubts about the fit, and the club could not offload Alexis Correa elsewhere. Inter ultimately pivoted to bringing Romelu Lukaku back on loan instead. The article, published by Federico Masini in Tuttosport, frames these overlapping negotiations as a series of alternate paths in the transfer market. It traces how each of these Roma players—Svilar, Mancini, Pellegrini, Molina, Koné and Dybala—has at different times occupied Inter's thinking, whether as established targets or passing considerations.

Ahead of the big match between Roma and Inter, the transfer market reveals a thread connecting the two clubs over recent years: failed negotiations, hidden probes and shared targets that have intertwined their strategies from goalkeeper to attack. Inter considered Mile Svilar before his 2025 renewal, and came close to signing Mario Hermoso in 2024 before Oaktree's green-line policy on free transfers halted the move. The Nerazzurri also evaluated Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini, though the latter never wavered in his commitment to Roma despite Inter's interest. The clubs also conducted scouting missions for Nahuel Molina and Lorenzo Pellegrini on the flanks and in midfield. The biggest near-miss involved Manu Koné: in summer 2025, Inter reached an agreement worth 40 million euros, but Roma's ownership blocked the deal after a strong reaction from the supporters. The greatest regret for Inter remains Paulo Dybala, who came very close to joining the Nerazzurri in 2022. Zhang began to waver, Inzaghi was not entirely convinced, and Inter ultimately chose to pursue Lukaku's return on loan instead. That decision effectively cleared the path for Dybala's historic move to Roma.

Leonardo Balerdi joined Roma on a loan deal from Marseille in the final hours of the summer transfer window, completing a negotiation that had been in motion for a year. Roma paid €1 million for the loan and hold the right to make the Argentine defender's move permanent for €14 million at the end of the season, but several clauses could convert that option into an obligation. The central trigger is appearance-based: if Balerdi plays at least 55 per cent of Roma's matches across all competitions, with a minimum of 45 minutes per game, the €14 million redemption becomes mandatory. A sliding scale applies if his involvement falls between 40 and 55 per cent of fixtures, lowering the obligation to €11 million. A third safeguard protects Marseille against attempts to artificially reduce Balerdi's playing time: should he feature in at least 20 per cent of matches in the second half of the season, an obligation to buy at €9 million automatically triggers. The structure reflects Gasperini's first season in charge and the club's confidence in the 1999-born centre-back, while protecting both parties. Balerdi's minutes and involvement across the 2026–27 campaign will now determine Roma's financial commitment to the deal, with multiple threshold points built in to ensure clarity on his future at the Olimpico.

Roma train today ahead of Saturday's match against Inter, with the squad staying overnight at Trigoria to maintain focus on the fixture. Gian Piero Gasperini has all players available, including Mario Hermoso, who has recovered from a minor ankle injury and will start. The Spanish defender will line up alongside Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini in defence, though Leonardo Balerdi remains a consideration. Gasperini's main tactical uncertainty centres on Roma's full-back positions. Wesley will feature, but the coach has not yet settled on which flank to deploy him. The Brazilian has been tested on the right in recent training sessions—a clear attempt to counter the threat posed by Inter's Dimarco. If Wesley is positioned on the right, Nahuel Molina will occupy the left flank, with Emanuele Lulli omitted from that scenario. Alternatively, Gasperini could use the young full-back on the right, a position where he has featured in all league matches this season and has outperformed Molina in recent fitness tests. Gasperini has the final hours to decide on his approach, knowing the stakes are high for what promises to be a decisive encounter. The coach is aware that victory will require a flawless performance from his side.

Gian Piero Gasperini has almost his full squad available for Roma's clash with Inter, with Mario Hermoso back in training after an ankle contusion that forced him to miss Wednesday's session. The Spanish defender is now set to reclaim his place in the back line, though the team's defensive shape remains fluid with three significant selection dilemmas still unresolved. The primary doubt centres on the centre of defence, where Evan N'Dicka holds a slight edge over Leonardo Balerdi following the Argentine's strong performance in Turin. Balerdi's pace in covering and recovery could prove valuable against Inter's attackers in what Roma expect to be an open contest. With Gianluca Mancini likely on the right side of a back three, Hermoso completing the unit, and Mile Svilar in goal, the most probable defensive line is Mancini–N'Dicka–Hermoso, though Balerdi remains a serious challenger to the Ivorian until the final decision. On the right flank, Emanuele Lulli currently leads Nahuel Molina, with the choice complicated by the need to contain Dimarco, one of Inter's primary creative forces. Wesley should retain the left-back role. Midfield offers fewer surprises: Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné remain the leading candidates to start. The real tactical intrigue lies in the attacking third. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are untouchable; the third attacking role remains open. Matías Soulé is pressing for inclusion, Rodrigo Mora remains an alternative, but Niccolò Pisilli warrants particular attention. Deploying the midfielder in a more advanced position would allow Roma to shift defensively, recreating a three-man midfield line and matching Inter's numerical strength in that area—a solution with significant tactical weight against a team that has troubled Gasperini for years through rotations between fullbacks, wing-backs and centre-backs. Gasperini has termed the match a "bank of prova" (test). Three genuine doubts persist: N'Dicka versus Balerdi, Lulli versus Molina, and Soulé versus Pisilli versus Mora. Roma have not beaten Inter at the Olimpico in ten years, and the tactical detail could prove decisive.

Leonardo Balerdi joined Roma on a loan deal from Marseille in the final hours of the summer transfer window, completing a negotiation that had been in motion for a year. Roma paid €1 million for the loan and hold the right to make the Argentine defender's move permanent for €14 million at the end of the season, but several clauses could convert that option into an obligation. The central trigger is appearance-based: if Balerdi plays at least 55 per cent of Roma's matches across all competitions, with a minimum of 45 minutes per game, the €14 million redemption becomes mandatory. A sliding scale applies if his involvement falls between 40 and 55 per cent of fixtures, lowering the obligation to €11 million. A third safeguard protects Marseille against attempts to artificially reduce Balerdi's playing time: should he feature in at least 20 per cent of matches in the second half of the season, an obligation to buy at €9 million automatically triggers. The structure reflects Gasperini's first season in charge and the club's confidence in the 1999-born centre-back, while protecting both parties. Balerdi's minutes and involvement across the 2026–27 campaign will now determine Roma's financial commitment to the deal, with multiple threshold points built in to ensure clarity on his future at the Olimpico.