[Albion] Valentín Barco **Signed 20/01/24**

[Brian Fantana]

It’s pretty much over for the Fat Lady so personally I am more realistically optimistic than some here - there comes a point where one has to base expectation on what the overall picture is telling you. Anyway more here on a local Argentinian paper (just right click/ highlight to translate in text) about the background (including a link btw to Colo’s X post that was suggested as being fake account above - maybe its not). Sounds like the relationship between Boca Jnrs and Barco’s agent has been stormy for months while Boca has been trying to negotiate better terms for his contract - I hope TB has suggested he gets rid of him tbh we had enough of unprofessional agents with Caceido’s lot. (According to this source, Boca agreed the lower amount of $10 million btw to stay under a tax legislation threshold rather than accept our offer of $10.5.)

El "Colo" Barco deja Boca Juniors y se suma al Brighton de Inglaterra | Diario El Cordillerano

www.elcordillerano.com.ar

According to his twitter feed, he refers to himself as ‘el colo’ - ‘the red headed one’. ‘El’ gives it a slightly different connotation than just referring to someone‘s hair colour in a derogatory manner - It seems to be a term of endearment for Barco in Argentina which Barco seems happy to embrace.

Medical tests taking place in Argentina so he can carry on training with the U23s

I think the Twitter account is a fake. I believe he's got an official Instagram account with millions of followers though, but not sure how he refers to himself on that profile.

 

[Zeberdi]

I think the Twitter account is a fake. I believe he's got an official Instagram account with millions of followers though, but not sure how he refers to himself on that profile.

I’m not sure it is - it links to other content - however it is quite possible the account was/is maintained by his agent or another representative which wouldn’t be that unusual. I don’t have an X account so don’t know if there are many recent tweets.

https://twitter.com/intent/follow?r...-brighton-de-inglaterra&screen_name=colobarco

Seems to be ‘Colo’ on his Insta too ;

valentin barco (@colo.barco) • Instagram photos and videos

2M Followers, 627 Following, 156 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from valentin barco (@colo.barco)

www.instagram.com

 

[Brian Fantana]

I’m not sure it is - it links to other content - however it is quite possible the account was/is maintained by his agent or another representative which wouldn’t be that unusual. I don’t have an X account so don’t know if there are many recent tweets.

https://twitter.com/intent/follow?r...-brighton-de-inglaterra&screen_name=colobarco

Seems to be ‘Colo’ on his Insta too ;

valentin barco (@colo.barco) • Instagram photos and videos

2M Followers, 627 Following, 156 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from valentin barco (@colo.barco)

www.instagram.com

A prominent Argentine journalist posting a warning message the other day to say the Twitter account was fake. That was prompted by a goodbye message being sent from said Twitter account. The numbers don't add up too. c10k followers on this Twitter account versus millions on Instagram.

Either way, Colo does indeed seem to be the adopted nickname.

Let's hope we get the shirt-holding picture soon!

 

[chaileyjem]

I’m not sure it is - it links to other content - however it is quite possible the account was/is maintained by his agent or another representative which wouldn’t be that unusual. I don’t have an X account so don’t know if there are many recent tweets.

This South American ESPN journalist (and others) have called it out as a fake.

 

[Brian Fantana]

This South American ESPN journalist (and others) have called it out as a fake.

Thanks, that was the journalist I mentioned above but then inevitably couldn't find the tweet!

 

[LamieRobertson]

Tim V on TS now talking about it. Nothing new to report (basically repeating what he said in the earlier interview posted a few pages ago). 'Buying on promise, but the promise is real'

He did add that we won’t see him for a bit because he’ll be off to some tournament until mid Feb

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

He did add that we won’t see him for a bit because he’ll be off to some tournament until mid Feb

Mid Feb seems to be when we're on course to have about double the available players we currently have now!

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Has he singed yet?

 

[chaileyjem]

He did add that we won’t see him for a bit because he’ll be off to some tournament until mid Feb

He's in a pre tournament camp with the Argentina squad (he's posted several pix of him training on his Insta). This is the u23 pre Olympics tournament - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_CONMEBOL_Pre-Olympic_Tournament
Its held in Venezuela from 20 January to 11 February 2024.
The top two teams - Argentina are the holders - so you'd guess there's a strong chance Argentina will make the final - will qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics men's football tournament in France as the CONMEBOL representatives.
So a good chance he won't be flying to the UK until Feb 12th at the earliest.

 

[phoenix]

Mid Feb seems to be when we're on course to have about double the available players we currently have now!

Tony Bloom stated on his recent tv appearance (sky i think) that EVERYONE except Solly should be fit by then as things stand.

 

[chaileyjem]

Tony Bloom stated on his recent tv appearance (sky i think) that EVERYONE except Solly should be fit by then as things stand.

Lamptey and Veltman were in the Dubai vid shared by the club yesterday.

Webster, Welbeck, and Estupinan were pretty much back to match fitness before Dubai

Mitoma is in the Japan Asia Cup squad - so they're hoping he'll be fit for the quarter finals onwards if they make them ?

and that just leaves
Ansu Fati, Adingra , Enciso, and Igor all presumably on track to be fit within 4-5 weeks.

 

[Acker79]

I feel like there is a way to rework the Kinks' Lola in to Colo...

 

[canlison]

He's in a pre tournament camp with the Argentina squad (he's posted several pix of him training on his Insta). This is the u23 pre Olympics tournament - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_CONMEBOL_Pre-Olympic_Tournament
Its held in Venezuela from 20 January to 11 February 2024.
The top two teams - Argentina are the holders - so you'd guess there's a strong chance Argentina will make the final - will qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics men's football tournament in France as the CONMEBOL representatives.
So a good chance he won't be flying to the UK until Feb 12th at the earliest.

I really wouldn't count on Argentina making it that far tbh (as an argentine)

Mascherano as a coach has been genuinely horrific

 

[schmunk]

I feel like there is a way to rework the Kinks' Lola in to Colo...

I made a poor attempt somewhere up this thread.

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

I made a poor attempt somewhere up this thread.

How about Swing Low Sweet Chariot but Colo sweet Argentinean?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

How about Swing Low Sweet Chariot but Colo sweet Argentinean?

Argentine (rather than Argentinian) scans.

But NO...

 

[Colonel Mustard]

How about Swing Low Sweet Chariot but Colo sweet Argentinean?

Bloody hell. Doesn't anyone here understand scansion? What are they teaching the kids in school these days?

 

[keitho54]

Bloody hell. Doesn't anyone here understand scansion? What are they teaching the kids in school these days?

Clearly not spondees and dactyls!

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Tony Bloom stated on his recent tv appearance (sky i think) that EVERYONE except Solly should be fit by then as things stand.

On my count that would leave us with 24 fit senior players. That excludes Solly and Dahoud. It also excludes Valentin and any other purchases.

Which means, that if, in the unlikely event they do all return to us fit on that schedule plus we don't have any more injuries, we're faced with leaving between 4-6 players out of the matchday squad who would expect to be in it. Players like Baleba, Moder, Lallana, Lamptey would face a huge battle just to be on the bench.

However, we've got to get through mid to late Feb with what we've got before we can rely on those sort of riches. That's 6 or 7 fixtures still, almost exclusively against bottom half sides.

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

However, we've got to get through mid to late Feb with what we've got before we can rely on those sort of riches. That's 6 or 7 fixtures still, almost exclusively against bottom half sides.

Whooooooooooopeeeeeeeeeee...

That's 4 points guaranteed then