Marseille's Argentinian defender #05 Leonardo Balerdi reacts after picking up an injury during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique de Marseille (OM) at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris, on March 16, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)placeholder image
Marseille's Argentinian defender #05 Leonardo Balerdi reacts after picking up an injury during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique de Marseille (OM) at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris, on March 16, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) | AFP via Getty Images
Newcastle United are exploring other defensive options after cooling their interest in Marc Guehi
A Marseille fan once went on a hunger strike in a bizarre protest against Leonardo Balerdi.
Balerdi started his career at Boca Juniors before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2019. But after managing just eight appearances, the defender was loaned to Marseille and later completed a permanent switch.
The 26-year-old has made 164 appearances for the French giants and last season captained the side as they finished runners up behind Paris Saint-Germain. But it hasn’t always been rosy for Balerdi in France. Far from it.
Marseille launches bizarre protest against Leonardo Balerdi
A catalogue of errors at the beginning of 2023 was too much for one Marseille fan in particular, who went to extreme lengths to display his disdain.
The supporter in question turned up outside Marseille’s training ground with a cardboard sign, which featured the word "dehors" - which translates as “ out”, while it also said he would starting a hunger strike to get his way.
It continued: "Le peuple Marseilles ne veut plus de toi, respect nous merci." That translates to "the people of Marseille don't want you anymore, respect us, thank you".
The fan even managed to get Nuno Tavares, who was on loan at Arsenal at the time, to sign a petition to ban Balerdi from, though it was an honest mistake from the left-back as he signed autographs.
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Matteo Guendouzi, now of Lazio, confronted the protester and said: “Everybody makes mistakes.” Fortunately, speaking one year on, Balerdi saw the funny side.
“Folklore!” Balerdi told L’Equipe, “Now I see a lot of Balerdi fans, but I like it when people criticise me, it motivates me too. I need people to focus on my mistakes, I need to keep improving.”
Newcastle United cool interest in Marc Guehi
As reported by NewcastleWorld earlier this week, Eddie Howe’s Magpies have cooled their interest in Guehi and are now looking at options on the continent.
Newcastle have absolutely zero want to get involved in any protracted transfer sagas. That was exactly what played out last summer with Guehi, as Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish held firm in the face of Newcastle advances.
Bids north of £50m, in total, but never close to the £60m reported, are understood to have been discussed last summer, but all of that effort, driven mainly by now ex-sporting director Paul Mitchell, came in vain.
While Guehi is admired by United still, we have learned the Magpies have already turned their attentions elsewhere. And unless situations change significantly, it's unlikely the club will make any further moves for the player, despite his decreased market valuation. Guehi has just one year left on his current deal at Selhurst Park.
Liverpool are said to be monitoring the England international, admired by Howe for his speed and quality with the ball, but are also being hit by an inflated Palace valuation of the player this summer.
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