Brighton are reportedly in talks to sign Valentin Barco from Boca Juniors but face competition from Manchester City for his signature.
The Seagulls have been busy making moves in the transfer window, with the board trying to provide Roberto de Zerbi with the tools required to balance Premier League with European adventure this season. In Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo, De Zerbi has lost two key players that helped him qualify for the Europa League last term, but he remains hopeful of getting in replacements before the transfer window slams shut. In addition, the Italian also wants a new left-back.
According to ESPN Argentina journalist Emiliano Raddi, Brighton have tabled an offer for Boca Juniors’ left-back Valentin Barco, who has a €10million release clause in his contract. They are willing to pay his release clause, but Barco wants to play in the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals and stay until the end of the competition.
The 19-year-old is rated among the brightest young talents in South America. He moved to Boca Juniors’ youth set-up in 2014 and was promoted to the first-team squad in 2021 after turning 17. Despite playing only 14 times in two years, the Argentinean youth international has caught the attention of many clubs, including Brighton and Man City.
Valentin Barco to Brighton—Good choice?
Brighton are particularly well-known for unearthing gems at a young age before nurturing them into valuable assets that other elite clubs are vying to sign, such as Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo. That is the beauty of their scouring network, and now, it seems, the Seagulls’ gaze has turned towards Boca Juniors’ teenage prodigy, Valentin Barco.
Barco, a highly talented 19-year-old left-back has showcased impressive attacking skills while playing for Boca, including pace, direct dribbling, game reading and the ability to play as an inverted full-back. At Brighton, the teenager might have to settle for a backup role initially, with Pervis Estupinan the current first-choice left-back under De Zerbi. Estupinan has been a consistent performer for the Seagulls as a raiding left-back since replacing double player of the year Marc Cucurella last year.
However, De Zerbi has no competition or backup for the Ecuador international, which opens up the opportunity for Barco to come in and challenge him for a spot in the first XI. Barco has already displayed his versatility down Boca Juniors’ left flank, and from slotting into various roles to showcasing his attacking prowess, the 19-year-old is a special talent.
With Brighton’s history of poaching young talents from South America, honing their skills and then selling them for eye-watering amounts, it’s little surprise they are interested to bring Barco to England. If Brighton can beat Man City to the Argentinean sensation’s signature, it would represent a huge coup of sorts for them.