Valentín Barco struggled for a prominent role since joining Brighton & Hove Albion from Boca Juniors in January 2024.
The left-back was restricted to a limited role at Brighton in the second half of last season. Fabian Hürzeler replaced Roberto De Zerbi last summer and left the 20-year-old out of his core plans this season.
Brighton sent the Argentina international on loan to Sevilla last summer, but this move didn’t work out for him. The Seagulls cut short his stay in Spain and sent him on loan to RC Strasbourg in the winter market.
Barco’s father, Walter, has now revealed his plan wasn’t join the Premier League club a year ago. He mentioned this when responding to Lucas Miranda (@soybosteroo) on Instagram, relayed by Tyc Sports.
The defender came up through the ranks of the Argentine club’s academy and made his way to their first team in 2021. He started to enjoy regular minutes in 2023 and that saw him attract interest from Brighton and a few other European clubs.
Valentín wanted to stay at Boca Juniors at least until January 2026 and his father blames the board for his exit.
“That they don’t answer you anymore, old habit. They did the same to us,” he said.
“I had a meeting with the board, they asked me to put a price on it, I told them: ‘You have to make us a proposal’. [Director Raúl] Cascini replied: ‘Yes, come on, I’ll call you this week’. I’m still waiting.
“Colo [Valentín] wanted to stay for at least two more years. When the meeting ended, Chelo [Boca director Marcelo Delgado] grabbed me and said: ‘If you get a proposal to take him, don’t hesitate, this is for money, you don’t play for the shirt anymore.’ Those were the words I heard from the Boca Football Council.”
