Valentin Barco is a Brighton player. Whilst no official announcement has been made by the Albion yet over the expected £7.8 million arrival from Boca Juniors, the source providing confirmation of the deal is as reliable as they come – Barco himself.
Speaking to ESPN in South America, Barco said: “I’m already a Brighton player. Yes, the deal with Brighton is 100% done. I’ve signed the contract.”
Barco has not spoken to Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi yet. He did though seek the opinion of fellow Argentine teenager Facundo Buonanotte, who joined the Albion last January from Rosario Central.
In 12 months at the Amex so far, Buonanotte has shown glimpses of the talent he possesses. As with all young players coming to the Premier League from South America, Brighton have taken a patient approach in helping Buonanotte adapt to life in England. You suspect it will be similar with Barco.
“I didn’t have the opportunity to speak with the coach despite being already a Brighton player. It’s a totally different kind of football than here,” Barco also told ESPN.
“I’ll have to adapt, I hope it’s quick. I spoke with Facu, who is there. As I said before, I can do it as a three or as a midfielder, so wherever the team and the coach need me, I’m going to do it.”
Although labelled a left back in most reports linking him to Brighton, Barco has actually spent most of his short career so far playing as a left winger.
The 19-year-old has also been deployed on occasions as a holding midfielder. He recovers possession remarkably easily, similar to Moises Caicedo.
Manchester City were said to be interested in signing Barco because Pep Guardiola viewed his as a left back capable of inverting into midfield, ala Oleksandr Zinchenko.
In his homeland, the belief is Barco combining the fleet footedness of an out-and-out winger with the reading of the game and tackle success rate of a defender gives him the potential to become the best full back Argentina have ever produced.
Those high expectations come mainly from the form Barco showed as one of the standout players in Boca’s run to the final of last year’s Copa Libertadores.
Brighton have been able to sign such a highly rated player so cheaply thanks to a release clause in his Boca contract.
Boca fans meanwhile are pretty pissed off about the whole scenario, believing Barco to be worth at least double the £7.8 million Brighton have paid.
Barco signed the deal containing the release clause before he became a first team regular. Boca have paid the price for not negotiating a new contract with a higher release clause once Barco broke into the starting XI at La Bombonera and it became clear he was a special talent.
As well as Manchester City, the likes of Juventus and Liverpool were linked with Barco before the Seagulls swooped to secure another South American wonderkid for their ranks.
The delay in the official Albion announcement of Barco has been put down to him currently being on international duty with Argentina Under 23s as they attempt to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games.
Brighton also like to leave confirmation of transfers until late in the window, reducing the amount of criticism which comes the club’s way for not doing much deadline day business.
It was public knowledge that deals for Andi Zeqiri, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella were all done, only for the announcements to be delayed until as late as possible.
Barco is not the first young player from South America to confirm his signing before the club by speaking to the media Brighton.
In one of the best transfer moments of recent seasons, Julio Enciso appeared live on the Paraguayan version of Loose Women talking to the panel from Brighton Marina with an Albion shirt on the table in front of him.
