Julio Enciso has sparked a debate by dismissing the idea that either Valentin Barco or Chelsea starlet Kendry Paez are currently better players than he is.
Julio Enciso’s career has taken a surprise path through the BlueCo multi-club network, following a move from Brighton in 2025. While Chelsea were heavily linked with the Paraguayan, the deal was structured so that Enciso would join RC Strasbourg permanently to facilitate his development.
This arrangement allowed the 22-year-old to bypass Chelsea’s lack of loan spaces while remaining under the ownership group’s control.
During the 2025–26 Ligue 1 campaign, he has made 20 appearances, contributing one goal and two assists, along with six goals in the Coupe de France.
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Julio Enciso backs himself over Kendry Paez and Valentin Barco
Speaking to Versus, Julio Enciso was asked “Who’s better than him?”
His response was interesting. He said ‘no’ when the names Valentin Barco and Kendry Paez came up, which will cause plenty of conversation.
The full list is as follows:
Yeferson Soteldo: (NO) Jhon Durán: (NO) Minteh: (NO) Gonzalo Plata: (NO) Kendry Páez: (NO) Valentín Barco: (NO) Alexis Mac Allister: (YES) Matheus Cunha: (NO) Luis Díaz: (YES) Diego Gómez: (YES) Ramón Sosa: (YES) Hugo Cuenca: (NO) Vinícius Júnior: (NO) Lamine Yamal: (YES) Thiago Almada: (NO) Giorgian De Arrascaeta: (NO) Julián Álvarez: (YES).
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Julio Enciso compared to Paez and Barco
Julio Enciso and Valentin Barco have spent the 2025–26 season as core parts of the BlueCo project at RC Strasbourg, while Kendry Paez, who joined for £17 million, has returned to South America.
Barco, operating as a versatile left-back and midfielder, has technically outproduced Enciso in league play, recording four assists and one goal across 23 appearances. As well as five assists in the Coupe de France.
And, we could even see him in a blue shirt this summer, as Chelsea are supposedly closing in on the signing of Barco.
Meanwhile, Paez’s European transition was cut short; after 21 appearances for Strasbourg, Chelsea recalled the 18-year-old in January to facilitate a loan to River Plate.
We would say, as of today, Enciso is outperforming Paez, but Barco has more hype behind him and arguably a higher ceiling.
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