Boca Juniors are known for being a talent factory and for involving their top talents in the first teams squad over the years, including some big names like Carlos Tévez, Éver Banega and Fernando Gago.
Struggling financially, the Xeneizes were pushed to look into their youth teams, and lacking options for the left-back position, Valentín Barco established himself in the squad.
The Argentinian made his professional debut at only 16 years old in 2021. However, Barco played the most minutes during this 2023 season. As we will further specify, Valentín is characterised by his offensive involvement and versatility, which allows him to play both as a left-back and a left-winger.
Top European clubs like the Serie A side Juventus and, more recently, Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion are vigilant to this 19-year-old talent, and a summer transfer could be imminent.
In this tactical analysis, well detail Valentín Barco as a player and his positioning while playing as a left-back or as a left-winger under Jorge Almiróns tactics. We hope this analysis clarifies Barcos potential, weaknesses, strengths and how these influence his game.
What kind of player is Barco?
Generally, the Argentinian stands out due to his on-the-ball actions, whether playing as a left-back or a left-winger.
As we can see above, he ranked in the 99.5th percentile on dribbles per 90 minutes, compared to left-backs performing in Tier 1,2 and 3, which is an outstanding stat for such a young player.
Moreover, according to Wyscout,
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