Valentín Barco will no longer play for Boca. It seems like res judicata. The youngster, who is called up by Javier Mascherano for the U23s, will continue his career in English football after the Olympic Qualifiers in Venezuela. However, the management will not accept Brighton's offer: 9 million dollars for 90% of the transfer, in various installments, and the remaining 10% will remain for the club in the face of a future sale. He prefers to see the buyout clause, which is $10 million, executed. What are the reasons why the latter option is preferred, giving up income in the future?
The renewal of the Colorado's contract was a rough issue that the current leadership had to carry out with Representative Adrián Ruocco. El Colo made his debut in the First Division at the age of 16, on July 16, 2021 against Unión and with Miguel Ángel Russo as coach. At the time, he was under contract through December 2023 and had a $10 million buyout clause. The kid only played three games that year and during 2022 he was postponed, although he shone in the Reserve and in the U20 national team.
Negotiations for the renewal began in December 2022, which only happened at the beginning of February 2023. Boca managed to extend the contract for another year, that is, until December 2024. However, the buyout clause was kept at $10 million.
Following the agreement, Barco wrote on his Instagram account: "I am very happy to tell you that I renewed my contract with Boca until December 2024. Beyond everything that was said, I always wanted to stay. Hopefully I can continue to wear this shirt for many more years. I'm fulfilling a dream and that's why I decided to stay and fight here. I want to thank my parents, my girlfriend and my family for always being with me, my representative for accompanying me and the Council for making this possible. LET'S GO FUCK 💙💛💙 MOUTH."
During 2023, Barco became a key part of the team then coached by Jorge Almirón, who advanced him from his natural position of left-back and began to function as a kind of hooker. Thus, he was a figure in many of the matches of the year, especially in the Copa Libertadores. The Premier League had already had its eye on him.
He packs his bags: Barco leaves Boca.Photo: Fernando de la Orden
Just as Brighton immediately took Alexis Mac Allister, for a few months now they have been interested in adding another Colorado to their ranks. And between toasts, he accelerated the negotiations. Boca have the formal offer and the player's entourage has already made the decision: if the club does not accept it, they will execute the termination clause.
The numbers are clear. If Boca accepts Brighton's offer, they will receive almost seven million dollars in four or five installments, that is, first approximately one and a half million. The rest during the year. And, in the future, the chance to add another good amount of the green currency. For it to be a good deal for Boca, Brighton would have to sell him for more than $60 million, meaning he would receive another $<> million, plus training rights.
Why almost seven million? Because the 9 million must be deducted from the player's 15%, 7% from AFIP withholdings, 2% from the AFA, 1.2% stamp taxes in CABA, 0.5% from the union and, most likely, 7% from the representative's commission.
On the other hand, if Barco executes the release clause, he must deposit 100%, or the 10 million dollars, into the club's account within five days. If paid by Brighton, the English club will also have to pay 3% of the clause to the Players' Retirement Fund, 2% to the Structural Sports Fund in the AFA, 2% of Administrative Charges to the AFA and 0.5% to Members. The player gives up, of course, his 15%, unless Brighton pay him. But that's part of the individual negotiation with the new club. Boca, on the other hand, will always have the percentage of training rights. As Barco has been at the club since he was eight years old and signed his first contract at the age of 16, he is entitled to 10%.
To paraphrase the old popular adage, Boca prefers 10 million in hand to 15 flying. The truth is that it is difficult for the player, or his agent, to have the 10 million to deposit immediately. Most likely, the English club will. But it's worth asking: do you have that money to disburse now? Is Boca speculating on the possibility of a new offer, with a higher figure in fewer installments and a higher percentage of a future sale? We'll see in the next few days.