Spartak is close to its second transfer of a foreign player in the summer window. According to the report from the Russian newspaper, the Moscow club has agreed a four-year contract with River Plate attacking midfielder Ezequiel Barco. The agreement between the parties should be finalized next week. Let’s get to know the 25-year-old Argentinian.
Another transfer target for Dejan Stankovic:
Spartak aim for Euro 2024 quarter-finalists! He destroyed Manchester United and had a fight with his teammate
In Argentina, some details of the future transfer to Spartak were shared. According to TyC Sports, the red-and-white team offered River Plate 16 million dollars (about 15 million euros). The two clubs are discussing the payment structure. It was also learned that Barco’s salary in Moscow will be 2.5 million euros.
Curiously, Ezequiel could have ended up in Russia seven years ago, when Roberto Mancini decided to form an Argentine side at Zenit. Then there was talk of transferring Barco, who was then 18 years old, for 20 million dollars. For some reason, the deal fell through and the attacking midfielder has yet to play in Europe.
In general, Barco showed great promise in his youth. He was given beautiful nicknames: El Mago (The Magician) and La Perla (The Jewel). The short Ezequiel (he is only 167 cm tall) stood out for his technique, ability to play one-on-one and creativity. He played for the Argentine youth team. And already at the age of 17 he made his debut with the first team of Independiente.
Ezequiel Barco in Independent
Photo: Buda Mendes/Getty Images
In 2017, when Barco was interested in Zenit, Ezequiel won the Copa Sudamericana with Independiente, a tournament that can be called analogous to the Europa League. In the two-legged final against Flamengo, the young attacking midfielder provided an assist in the first home game and scored a penalty in the return match in Rio de Janeiro. Barco’s goal was the winner for the Argentines.
Benfica was interested in the Independiente talent, but Ezequiel eventually left for MLS, to Lionel Messi’s favourite coach, Argentine Gerardo Martino, who now runs Inter Miami. Martino then worked with Atlanta United. The American club paid $15 million for Barco. It was the most expensive transfer in MLS history. With these appearances it is clear that the attacking midfielder came to the league as a future star.
“This kid is probably the most important acquisition not only for us, but for the entire league. What matters is what people say about him,” said attacking midfielder Martino.
Ezequiel Barco at Inter Miami
Photo: Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Barco appeared in all attacking positions, but was usually left back or number ten. In his first season he scored 4+2 in 26 games, and in the MLS playoffs he came on as a late substitute and did not make any effective moves in five games. However, he participated in the league’s All-Star Game and, most importantly, won the championship title with Atlanta.
Martino once suspended Barco from working with the first team for violating discipline. According to rumours, this happened because Ezequiel had his eye on his teammate’s girlfriend. However, the conflict did not develop into anything more. Later the coach returned his compatriot to the base. And at Inter Miami, Martino, as foreign media wrote, wanted to invite Ezequiel to play with Messi.
“It’s the coach’s decision and I respect it. “I will train more,” said Ezequiel then, deciding not to develop the conflict.
In the following two years, Barco’s statistics were not impressive either. In the 2019 season: 4+2 in 15 MLS games and 0+0 in three playoff games. In the 2020 season: 2+2 in 12 MLS games. Ezequiel did not play much due to injuries and calls to the Argentine youth team.
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But the 2021 season turned out to be Barco’s best in the United States. In 25 MLS games, the attacking midfielder scored seven goals and provided six assists. Ezequiel was invited to the Argentine national team for the Olympic Games, but there the national team failed to advance out of the group with Australia, Egypt and Spain. Barco participated in all three group stage games, but did not score any goals or assists. Ezequiel also finished the MLS playoffs with a 0+0 record, as Atlanta United was eliminated after the first round.
After that season, Barco returned to Argentina. In January 2022, River Plate rented the attacking midfielder for an amount equivalent to 4 million euros and in January of this year the Buenos Aires Club finally bought Ezequiel: it cost them another 6.4 million euros approximately.
Over the past two and a half years, Barco has played 54 matches in the Argentine league, scoring seven goals and providing five assists. The statistics are not outstanding for an attacking player. Ezequiel was more successful in South America’s main club tournament: the Copa Libertadores. In 21 matches he scored 5+1. Barco’s problem is that he remains a mentally unstable player. Capable of having a brilliant match, impressing the fans with great dribbles or perhaps disappearing into the shadows.
Ezequiel Barco in River Plate
Photo: Daniel Jayo/Getty Images
This year, Barco caused a minor scandal. After scoring a goal in the Argentine championship match against Central Córdoba, Ezequiel celebrated with a provocative gesture. This happened against the backdrop of a long period of ineffectiveness for the attacking midfielder, so he succumbed to emotions. This is how he responded to criticism. Argentine journalists wrote that his “body language on the football field has worsened in recent months.”
“I really wanted to score this goal,” Barco admitted after the match. “In the first half I had three one-on-one opportunities that I couldn’t take advantage of. But my teammates told me to keep playing football. And I kept doing that, I did everything I could.”
At the end of the 2023 season, Barco won the championship and the Argentine Super Cup with River Plate. In the current 2024 season, River, after five rounds, is in seventh place, four points behind the leader Talleres, who reached the tournament in St. Petersburg. In addition, both teams met in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores. On August 14, the first round of the play-off will be played at Talleres, and on the 21st the host will be River Plate in the return match.
A story about the first newcomer of the summer for the red and whites:
Spartak’s first transfer with Stankovic! The former Real Madrid player arrived in Russia
In the Argentine Championship this season, Barco is second on the team in time played (371 minutes). He is first on River Plate in accurate passes in the opposing third of the field (72), second in passes under attack (8) and fouls committed on himself (10), third in shots (9), successes (5), dribbles (5) and wins duels (24).
A year ago, the CIES Football Observatory published a list of the best dribblers among players over 23 years old in national championships. The first according to statistics was Jorge Carrascal from Dynamo, and in addition to the Colombian, the top 5 included Jack Grealish, Leroy Zane, Lionel Messi and Rafael Leau. Barko also made it onto this list: the potential newcomer to Spartak took seventh place. Ezequiel is in good company.
