Do you ever sometimes feel like Brighton and Hove Albion are just playing out a real-life game of Football Manager?
This January, Brighton once again dipped in the FM24 markets by signing another South American wonderkid. This time they’ve managed the acquire wonderkid Valentin Barco for £7.8m from Boca Juniors.
The versatile Argentinian follows the well-trodden path previously taken by Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo, Julio Enciso and Facundo Buonanotte. Mac Allister and Caicedo inspired the Seagulls to heights they had never previously reached, helping deliver Europa League qualification before being sold on for a huge profit. Enciso and Buonanotte will likely complete similar big money moves in the not-too-distant future.
And what of Barco? Well, whisper it quietly, but some in Argentina think he could go onto become the best of Brighton’s South American contingent so far. Some prediction, given that contingent includes the most expensive player in British football history and a World Cup winning midfielder.
We can probably safely assume therefore that it won’t be long until Chelsea are bidding £574m to take Barco to Stamford Bridge. Other than the near-certainty Todd Boehly will not be able to help himself desiring Barco’s services in a couple of years time, here is everything you need to know about a player hailed as the future of Argentinian football.
“Born to be a footballer from day one” is a phrase you hear regularly attributed to South American wonderkids. Rephrase it to “born to be a footballer from the age of three”, and you have yourself a Barco.
For that is how old young Valentin was when he signed his first contract with Sportivo Las Parejas of the regionalised Argentine third tier. At the age of nine, Barco joined the Boca Juniors academy on the recommendation of legendary scout Ramon Maddoni.
Carlos Tevez, Esteban Cambiasso, Juan Roman Riquelme, Fernando Redondo and Leandro Paredes are among the players Maddoni has discovered in his 40-year career in football.
Barco turned professional with Boca at the age of 16 in 2020. His debut came the following year against Club Atletico Union just before his 17th birthday, making him the fourth youngest player in Boca history.
After three first team appearances in 2021, Barco returned to Boca B for 2022. That did not stop him attracting attention from Juventus, and a bid from Getafe came in the January 2023 transfer window too, after which he signed a new contract to stay at La Bombonera until December 2024.
Said new contract included a £7.8m release clause. At the time, that might have seemed high for a player with only 205 minutes of first team football to his name.
Fast forward 12 months and Boca have been left kicking themselves that it was not more, with attempts to negotiate another new deal with a release clause better reflecting Barco’s true value coming to nothing prior to the Seagulls swooping.
After signing his new Boca deal, the 2023 season proved to be a breakthrough campaign for Barco. He played 32 games in all competitions, scoring one goal and providing four assists.
Where Barco really caught the eye was in the Copa Libertadores. Boca advanced all the way to the final but were unable to secure a record-equalling seventh title – being were beaten by Brazilian side Fluminense.
Based on transfer deals carried out between Primera Division and Premier League clubs in the past 12 months, the going rate for a young Argentine moving to England is around £17m.
Alejo Veliz joined Spurs from Rosario Central for £13m in the summer and Manchester City have all-but confirmed the £21.7m signing of striker Claudio Echeverri from River Plate.
Neither of those players have achieved as much as Barco in their careers so far. Little wonder that Boca fans have hit out at their club for allowing such a talent to depart for a knockdown fee. Brighton meanwhile remain the kings of exploiting such circumstances in the transfer market.
In De Zerbi-ball, where positions are fluid and individuals can expect to fulfil multiple roles in the same game, versatile players are key. Barco looks the perfect fit for the Albion in that regard, capable of playing anywhere up and down the left flank and across the middle of the park.
What makes Barco special is the way he combines the fleet footedness of an out-and-out winger with the reading of the game and tackle success rate of a full-back. His ability to regain possession explains why he has also been used as a central midfielder.
Plenty of managers love a left-back who can invert into midfield, with Pep Guardiola being the most notable user of this. Manchester City were the club most strongly linked with Barco before he opted to move to Brighton. Which makes sense.
Why Brighton? With the likes of City, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Juventus and Red Bull Leipzig all interested, it is a just question that needs to be asked.
One explanation, of course, is the success stories of the aforementioned Mac Allister, Caicedo, Enciso and Buonanotte.
Young players arriving from far-flung continents find an environment at the Amex designed to help them fulfil their potential. Brighton have pathways in place and give individuals the time they need to adapt, unlike at other clubs where instant success is the be-all and end-all.
After signing for Brighton in January 2019, Mac Allister was immediately loaned back to Argentinos Juniors before another loan followed at Boca. He arrived in England in January 2020 but did not become a first team regular for the Albion for another two years.
Caicedo, on the other hand, waited 18 months between his £4.5m capture from Independiente del Valle and making his Premier League debut, with a four month loan at Belgian side Beerschot thrown in for good measure.
Brighton technical director David Weir has confirmed that Barco will be treated similarly, telling the official club website: “We have been aware of Valentin for a long time and have been impressed with the progress he has made at domestic and international level.
“We’re delighted to welcome him to the club, and we are looking forward to seeing how he progresses and develops under Roberto. He is an exciting prospect, but it’s also important we give him the time as he needs to settle and adapt to new surroundings and the Premier League.”
While Brighton are trying to manage expectations, it is hard to ignore the high hopes for Barco in Argetina. In fact, he is already being tipped to become the greatest left back in the nation’s history.
Barco’s swashbuckling style has drawn comparisons to Brazil’s Marcelo. Whereas Argentina’s arch rivals have produced some of the finest full backs in football history – Cafu, Dani Alves and Roberto Carlos in addition to Marcelo – the cupboard is pretty bare for La Albiceleste.
If Barco does settle into a left-back role rather than becoming a midfielder, then he could well become one of the best Argentina has produced.
Introducing our latest @FootballManager wonderkid… 🤩💫 pic.twitter.com/Udg1iwefxO
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 20, 2024
But back to Football Manager, which every fan knows is the only true way to gauge how good a talented young player will become in real life.
The good news for Brighton? Barco has been among the best wonderkids in the game for several years now, having first appeared as a 16-year-old as part of the Boca youth setup. In the latest 2024 version, Barco is reported to be by far and away the most signed teenager.
No wonder the Albion teased the signing of Barco with a Football Manager inspired video.
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