Valentin Barco’s transfer from Boca Juniors to Brighton & Hove Albion is still a matter of controversy in Argentina.
The Buenos Aires side definitely didn’t like seeing their player triggering his US$10m release clause and going elsewhere, as they think he left too cheaply.
Argentine newspaper La Nacion today features a story about the move to Brighton, and focuses on Adrian Ruocco, the man who was behind the whole operation.
The outlet tells stories from over 20 years ago, when the agent first met Carlos Tevez and started being a successful representative.
La Nacion explains that Barco and Ruocco agreed the midfielder’s last contract with Boca Juniors when he was injured. There was no certainty about his future back then, and that’s when all the parties thought that a US$10m release clause would be a suitable solution for a potential move in the future.
The newspaper spoke to sources from the market, which said Barco should actually be worth much more.
“In every transfer of a youth player there is also a big risk. Times in football have changed and nowadays youngsters are sold based on expectations and not on reality. The expectation today is that Barco will be worth US$50m. Now, we have to wait and see what reality says.”
La Nacion adds that Ruocco ‘does not rule out’ taking legal action against Le Meilleur du PSG, who claimed he wanted a US$3.5m commission to send Barco to PSG.
