Balerdi scored the first brace of his career as Roma fought back to take a point at the Maradona, with the Argentine defender turning into an extra forward once he came on around the hour mark in an attempt to avoid defeat. Balerdi arrived in the final days of the transfer window on loan for €1 million, and he has made an immediate impression with his pace, sense of anticipation and two goals. The performance has been one of the standout moments of Roma's start to the season, and it came at a delicate time for the club.
The Argentine is quick to credit the coaching staff for the freedom he has been given. He has been working on timing his runs into the box in the way that Mancini and Hermoso do, and he said he had settled in quickly at the club. Gasperini has also been pleased with the defender's influence, and he said that Balerdi and De Roon had not needed long to fit in, with their contribution being extraordinary. For Roma, the outcome has added depth and attacking options from the back line at a crucial point in the campaign.
Balerdi, the former Marseille defender, told DAZN: "The coach is teaching me to get into the box like Mancini and Hermoso do. He gives me the freedom to go forward and get close to the opposition goal. We wanted to win, but at least we're bringing a point home." On his goals, he said: "It's the first time I've scored a brace. I feel really good in this team. They welcomed me in the best way from the first day. It feels like I've been here two or three years, and that has given me the strength to play the way I am." Gasperini said: "He and De Roon didn't take long to settle in, and their contribution has been extraordinary. Balerdi knows football, and he has crazy energy. He's a great reinforcement for us." Balerdi, in the words of the coach's praise, looks like the summer's standout signing so far, an extra starter who has made an immediate difference.
Story Coverage2 sources on this story
Leonardo Balerdi scored the first brace of his career as Roma came back to take a point in a 1-1 draw at Napoli. The Argentine defender came on around the hour mark, when Roma were trying to avoid defeat, and pushed forward as an extra attacker. Forza Roma reports that Balerdi, the former Marseille defender, arrived on loan in the final days of the transfer window for €1 million and has already impressed with his pace, anticipation and two goals. GialloRossi.net covers the same match and headlines the defender's comments about feeling at home in Rome, but the text available to us breaks off before it adds further detail.
Balerdi credited the coaching staff for the freedom he has been given. He told DAZN that the coach was teaching him to get into the box the way Mancini and Hermoso do, adding: "He gives me the freedom to go forward and get close to the opposition goal. We wanted to win, but at least we're bringing a point home." Gasperini was equally positive, saying that Balerdi and Jeremie de Roon "didn't take long to settle in, and their contribution has been extraordinary. Balerdi knows football, and he has crazy energy. He's a great reinforcement for us."
On his integration, Balerdi said: "They welcomed me in the best way from the first day. It feels like I've been here two or three years, and that has given me the strength to play the way I am." For Roma, the result added depth and attacking options from the back line at a crucial point in the season.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“La prima doppietta in carriera non si scorda mai, soprattutto in un momento così delicato. La "garra" di Balerdi ha contribuito alla rimonta della Roma al Maradona. Entrato in campo intorno all'ora di gioco, il difensore argentino è diventato una sorta di attaccante aggiunto nel tentativo di…”
Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.