Balerdi ‘I Feel Good in Any Role’ as Roma Transform Back Three for Champions League Clash

FolioPitch.com – 21 October 2026 | Leonardo Balerdi has confirmed a radical reshuffle of the Roma defence for tonight’s Champions League encounter with Slovan Bratislava, declaring that Balerdi I feel good in any role as Roma transform back 3 is the mindset driving the Giallorossi through a turbulent start to their European campaign. The Argentine defender will move into a central role at the Stadio Olimpico, flanked by Daniele Ghilardi and Mario Hermoso, as coach Gian Piero Gasperini seeks to stabilise a backline that has conceded seven goals in two group matches.

Roma are still chasing their first Champions League victory of the season. After a 1-1 draw away to Fenerbahce, the capital club squandered a 3-1 lead at the 82nd minute and lost 4-3 to Real Madrid at the Olimpico, a collapse that cost them Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné to injury. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar also misses out this evening, though Bryan Cristante returns to the bench a month after his knee issue. Against that backdrop, the message from Balerdi — Balerdi I feel good in any role as Roma transform back 3 — carries real weight for a side in transition.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia ahead of kick-off, the former Olympique Marseille man was relaxed about the tactical shift. “I feel good in any role in defence, we are all strong,” he said. “Ghilardi and Hermoso immediately understand what we need to do, I get along with Mancini and Ndicka too, so it’s all good.” His adaptability has been a theme since his late arrival in the transfer window on loan with an option to buy that can become an obligation for a total €16m, and the sentiment of Balerdi I feel good in any role as Roma transform back 3 reflects a squad embracing Gasperini’s demands.

The coach’s influence was a major factor in the move. “Gasperini is a great coach, he knows what he wants to do, I like his passion, the way he trains,” Balerdi added. “It works, because we feel so much confidence on the field, and that’s important for a player.” That confidence will be tested against a Slovan Bratislava side eager to exploit any uncertainty in a reworked three-man defence, and the phrase Balerdi I feel good in any role as Roma transform back 3 neatly captures the flexibility Gasperini is demanding from his defenders.

Off the pitch, Balerdi has settled quickly into a growing Argentine contingent at Trigoria. Roma now boast five Argentine players, with the summer arrivals of Balerdi, Nahuel Molina and Santiago Castro adding to an already strong South American core. “There are many Argentines at Roma, they wrote to me before I came here and gave me a great welcome,” he said. “I am happy, but we know that we’ve got to take Roma as high as possible, that’s what we want to do.”

The defensive transformation is not merely cosmetic. Gasperini has spent the early weeks of the season experimenting with personnel and shape, and the decision to deploy Balerdi centrally between Ghilardi and Hermoso signals a desire for greater composure in possession and quicker ball progression from the back. With Mancini and Ndicka also available, Roma now possess four centre-backs comfortable in multiple positions — a depth that could prove decisive across a congested fixture list.

Tonight’s match also offers Roma a chance to reset after the Real Madrid heartbreak. The Giallorossi dominated large spells of that game before capitulating late, and the absence of Dybala and Koné robs Gasperini of creativity and energy in midfield. Cristante’s return to the bench provides a timely option, while the reshuffled defence will be expected to protect Svilar’s deputy and avoid the kind of late errors that proved so costly.

For Balerdi, the focus is simple: perform wherever selected. The defender’s willingness to adapt — summed up by Balerdi I feel good in any role as Roma transform back 3 — is precisely the attitude Gasperini has cultivated during his tenure. Whether deployed centrally or wider, the 27-year-old insists the collective strength of the defensive unit makes individual positioning secondary.

As Roma chase a first Champions League win of the campaign, the spotlight will fall on a defence in flux. The message from Balerdi is clear: the Giallorossi are ready to transform, and he is ready to play his part in any role required.