Valentin Barco is reportedly closing in on a summer move to Chelsea, with terms said to have been agreed for the Strasbourg midfielder. But Barco wants to play for another club at some point.
Barco, 21, looks set to be the first signing made under Liam Rosenior. This summer, Emanuel Emegha and Geovany Quenda are due to arrive at Chelsea, but Barco is expected to be Rosenior’s first addition.
It is claimed that Argentina international Barco has already agreed, verbally, to join Chelsea with personal terms not expected to be an issue. The BlueCo connection between clubs means a deal is straightforward.
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Rosenior's Strasbourg star is incoming.
Barco was linked with Chelsea almost immediately after Rosenior’s arrival in January and now, it looks as if the former Brighton star will link up with the Blues. But Barco has admitted he’d love to play elsewhere.
Valentin Barco dreams of Boca Juniors return
Amid all the noise regarding the youngster’s future, Barco has spoken to Argentine outlet Lo Del Pollo in the last 24 hours. An interview staged at Strasbourg’s stadium, Barco discussed boyhood club Boca.
He only played 35 times for Boca’s senior team after making the leap from the academy, before Brighton came calling in 2024. But he told Lo Del Pollo that he would like to return to Boca at some point.
Valentin Barco of Strasbourg
Photo by Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
“My idea is to return to Boca and come back in good shape so I can give them joy, whether through titles, which I unfortunately couldn’t give them now, but I hope I can in the future,” Barco explains.
It came after saying how he would almost travel for four hours a day to go to Boca training as a junior, even if he didn’t play the matches. But the midfielder explains how it shaped his mentality for the future.
Barco contract details revealed as Chelsea move agreed
Among others, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Barco will become a Chelsea player this summer. The well-respected journalist says a deal is done, with BlueCo transferring the player between the clubs.
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Rosenior is a big fan of Barco and the respect is mutual, with the English gaffer once giving Barco time off to allow him to be present for the birth of his first child. Now, the pair are due to reunite.
Reports from Barco’s home country state that he has signed a five-year contract, but nothing has been confirmed as things stand. First things first for Barco, win a place in Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina squad.
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