Albion Analytics: Valentin Barco

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

How do our new signing's numbers look?

Liam Tharme

Albion Analytics

2024-01-25T06:00:00Z

Valentin Barco came through the youth ranks with Boca.

Valentin Barco arrives at Brighton from Boca Juniors with quite the reputation.

He is the ninth arrival this season, the sixth Brighton have paid a fee for — of those six, he is one of five arrivals who are under the age of 23. Albion’s policy of developing youth talent, specifically players arriving from South American leagues, has been proven in recent years with Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister, Facundo Buonnanotte and Julio Enciso.

Technical director David Weir said the club were “impressed with the progress he has made at domestic and international level.” Only aged 19, Barco debuted for Argentina’s U23s in December, under Javier Mascherano, who coached him in the U20s.

He has made 35 appearances for Boca in all competitions, most importantly being a key figure in their run to the Copa Libertadores final (the South American Champions League), where they lost out to Fluminense.

Valentin has also represented Argentina up to under-23 level.

He played the eight most minutes in the competition of any Boca player, and was the youngest in the squad. It included starts in the semi-final and final. Aged 19 years and 104 days, he was the youngest player to start in a Copa Libertadores final since Ever Banega in 2007.

Playing from left midfield, Barco completed 27 of 37 attempted passes, but stood out for six dribbles/progressive carries and five crosses. This was a reflection of his performance across the competition and his playing style.

In the Libertadores, he attempted the most crosses per 90 of any Boca player to play over 600 minutes (7.3), and had the most shot-creating actions as well (4.8). He was top too for dribbles per game (5.3), with his ability in tight spaces standing out despite his youth. Barco won 26 fouls in total, with SD Aucas’ Romulo Otero (32) the only player to be fouled more, impressive considering Barco only committed six himself, despite averaging over three tackles plus interceptions per game.

He is technically mature beyond his years, capable of receiving against a settled opposition defence and weaving his way through on the dribble, or combining with teammates to get past. For a player not physically dominant, and boasting a slight build, it benefits him in one-v-one situations to beat opponents through sharp changes of direction.

It does mean he can lose possession, dispossessed 18 times in the Libertadores, the most of any Boca player, but is something he should improve at with age and time, and is arguably already balanced out by his creative output.

The Argentinian made 32 appearances for Boca in 2023.

Compare him against his positional peers and Barco’s creativity is outstanding. Including Argentina’s Primera Division as part of the 14 leagues in the tier below Europe’s five major leagues (including the Eredivisie, MLS, Portugal’s Primeira Liga, Belgium’s Pro League among others), Barco ranks inside the top 10% of full-backs, per 90, for shots, non-penalty xG and goals. Creatively, his take-ons per game and progressive carries are in the top 10% too, indicating a player who can carry over big and short distances, against and without pressure.

He ranks in the top 15% for progressive passes played as well as received, reflecting ability to play in pockets or break lines himself. You could consider that essential given Brighton have the second-highest possession in the Premier League this season (61.6%, only behind Manchester City) and demand versatile full-backs who can push forward and step in-field to provide overloads against compact mid and low-blocks. This tactical adaptability comes naturally to Barco, as David Weir praised “his versatility with Boca, playing across the midfield”.

This season, 33% of Barco’s league minutes have come as a left-winger, 32% have been in a full-back or wide midfield role, 22% have come as a central midfielder and he has spent 13% of the time as a No 10 — it is a similar sort of utility role to the hybridity that Pascal Gross, Jack Hinshelwood and James Milner have shown, and that Roberto De Zerbi demands.

If there is a hyper-critique, it is his rawness, but natural given his age. His pass accuracy in all competitions is around 74%, way down on the Brighton average this season 87.5%, and he ranks well below the full-back average for interceptions, blocks, clearances, aerials won, and is about average for tackles — he might be an attack-minded full-back, but it is a similar profile to first-choice Pervis Estupinan, who has refined his game under De Zerbi and thrives in an attacking system. There is nothing to suggest Barco cannot do the same.