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Valentín Barco

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Valentín Barco
Barco with Argentina U20 in 2023
Personal information
Full name Valentín Barco[1]
Date of birth (2004-07-23) 23 July 2004 (age 20)[1]
Place of birth Veinticinco de Mayo, Buenos Aires, Argentina[2]
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Left-back, wide midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Sevilla
(on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)
Number 19
Youth career
2007–2013 Sportivo Las Parejas
2013–2014 Norberto de la Riestra[3]
2014–2021 Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Boca Juniors 23 (1)
2024– Brighton & Hove Albion 6 (0)
2024– → Sevilla (loan) 5 (0)
International career‡
2019 Argentina U15 6 (3)
2022– Argentina U20 11 (1)
2023– Argentina U23 2 (1)
2024– Argentina 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:51, 29 September 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 04:40, 23 March 2024 (UTC)

Valentín Barco (born 23 July 2004) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a left-back or wide midfielder for La Liga club Sevilla, on loan from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, and the Argentina national team. He was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation" list for 2021.[4]

Club career

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Boca Juniors

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In 2021, Barco was scouted by Argentine club Boca Juniors and immediately signed his professional contract.[5] On 16 July 2021, he made his professional debut at 16 years old in a 1–1 draw against Unión.[6][7][better source needed] On 29 June 2023, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 win over Monagas in the Copa Libertadores.[8][better source needed] Less than one month later on 24 July, he scored his first league goal in a 2–1 victory against Newell's Old Boys after converting a cross from Pol Fernández.[9][better source needed] He continued to fulfil his promise for Boca, when on 10 August 2023, during their game against Nacional Montevideo in the Copa Libertadores round of 16, produced a dominant display for the blue and gold, displaying creativity key to both Boca goals. Boca were pegged back twice during the 90 minutes of regulation play and with the game at 2–2 on the night and on aggregate, it went to penalties. Barco stepped up fifth of five for Boca, and scored the decisive penalty to take them to the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, Boca met Brazilian side Palmeiras. The first leg finished 0–0 at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires. During the return leg in Brazil, Barco famously stood on the ball with both feet whilst in possession, a move that at his young age in a Copa Libertadores semi-final, stunned the Palmeiras players, fans and South American critics alike. It was a move that garnered many headlines, despite a counter attacking goal by Edinson Cavani and a red card being shown to Marcos Rojo. The tie, once again for Boca, with a 1–1 aggregate score, went to a penalty shootout. They won the shootout 4–2, courtesy of a heroic display by goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

At the age of 19, Barco had cemented his place in the starting 11 for Boca and started in the 2023 Copa Libertadores final against Fluminense. He played 78 minutes before being substituted for fellow youth product Luca Langoni. Boca lost the final 2–1 after extra time, courtesy of goals by German Cano and John Kennedy.

Brighton & Hove Albion

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On 20 January 2024, Barco transferred to English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around $10 million (€9.1 million), signing a four-and-a-half-year contract until 30 June 2028.[10][11]

Loan to Sevilla

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On 23 August 2024, Barco was loaned to La Liga club Sevilla for the 2024–25 season with no buy option.[12]

International career

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On 23 March 2024, Barco debuted for the Argentine senior squad on 23 March 2024 in a friendly match against El Salvador.[13]

Style of play

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Barco has been described as one of Argentina's most exciting youth prospects. He normally plays as a marauding full-back who can make forward runs and create chances for his teammates. He has also been noted for his versatility, having played as a winger.[14][15][16]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 29 September 2024[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Boca Juniors 2021 Primera División 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2022 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023 20 1 3 0 9[b] 1 32 2
Total 23 1 3 0 9 1 35 2
Brighton & Hove Albion 2023–24 Premier League 6 0 1 0 0 0 7 0
Sevilla (loan) 2024–25 La Liga 5 0 0 0 – 5 0
Career total 34 1 4 0 9 1 47 2
  1. ^ Includes Copa Argentina, FA Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Copa Libertadores

International

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As of match played 22 March 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Argentina 2024 1 0
Total 1 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Argentina (ARG)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 1. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  2. ^ Valentín Barco at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ Parrottino, Roberto (20 May 2023). "El Colo Barco no sonríe". Cenital (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Next Generation 2021: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 7 October 2021.
  5. ^ Boero, Germán (17 August 2021). "Valentin Barco: Boca Juniors wonderkid who could be Manchester City-bound". Goal. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Valentín Barco set to join Brighton from Boca Juniors". OneFootball. 11 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Unión (Santa Fe) 1–1 Boca Juniors | Final Score". ESPN. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Boca Juniors 4–0 Monagas SC | Final Score". ESPN. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Boca Juniors 2–1 Newell's Old Boys". ESPN. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Valentin Barco joins Albion from Boca Juniors". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 20 January 2024.
  11. ^ O'Sullivan, Joseph (16 January 2024). "Brighton Sign Valentín Barco From Boca Juniors For $10 Million Fee". Forbes. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Valentín Barco, nuevo refuerzo para la parcela defensiva del Sevilla FC" (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  13. ^ Castillo, Nico (23 March 2024). "Valentín Barco, el integrante número 45 de los debutantes en el ciclo del "Leónidas"". Vavel (in Spanish).
  14. ^ Kulig, Jacek (31 May 2021). "Valentín Barco". Football Talent Scout. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Valentin Barco: Why Man City and Liverpool are targeting the teenage Boca Juniors left-back who moonlights as an attacking playmaker". Goal. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Barco: I try to be an all-round full-back". FIFA. 12 January 2024.
  17. ^ Valentín Barco at Soccerway
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