" Balerdi is rubbish, you know it! He's always running his mouth, you know it! " Ousmane Dembélé's words to Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, captured by Ligue 1+ cameras during the PSG-OM match (5-0), continue to generate reactions. Scoring twice that evening, the Ballon d'Or winner capitalized on the Argentine's defensive lapses to further punish a struggling Marseille side. He even cost Roberto De Zerbi his place on the bench. This exchange, of course, quickly went viral.
The story even reached Argentina, which, of course, rallied behind the Marseille player. " Leonardo Balerdi once again found himself in the spotlight during the last Classique between PSG and OM. During the heavy 5-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes, the Argentinian defender was the target of an insult from Ousmane Dembélé," reports Tyc Sports, adding that " the term 'nobody,' although common in the French language, was interpreted as an insult ."
" What's wrong, Ousmane? Are you still suffering because of Qatar? "
Argentine media also noted Højbjerg's lack of enthusiasm in defending his teammate. " The video, which has just been released, adds a new dimension to the scene of the second goal, when the striker outmaneuvered the two Argentine defenders (Balerdi and Medina) before unleashing a powerful shot. The commentary directed at Højbjerg adds a verbal dimension to what was already a masterclass in football," adds La Nacion, while Olé was less than amused by the Frenchman's taunting.
“ What’s wrong, Ousmane? Are you still suffering because of Qatar? ” the newspaper sniped in a post on X that has since been removed. The media outlet recalled the future Ballon d’Or winner’s terrible performance in the last World Cup final between France and Argentina (3-3, 2-4 on penalties), where he was replaced by Kolo Muani in the 41st minute after clumsily fouling Di Maria in the penalty area, giving Messi a penalty.
Argentina will defend its title this year, and this is also a related issue for Balerdi. The international player's situation (11 caps) is a cause for concern. Called up for recent national team gatherings, the defender has a very good chance of making Lionel Scaloni's squad. " In this context, Dembélé 's comments symbolize a memorable evening. For Balerdi, captain and pillar of the defense, who aspires to play in the World Cup with Argentina, the challenge will be to restore his image in a difficult situation," concludes La Nacion.