He arrived as a figure. He was a desired and sought-after player. What he had done in Independiente when he was not yet 20 years old was still in his memory. However, he threatened more than he realized. And now, after some high moments, and some lower ones, she leaves. If no problem arises, Esequiel Barco will go to Spartak Moscow of Russiawhich will pay 16 million dollars.
Barco’s last months in River were with the arrow down. He had lost his position and although he was one of the first replacement players, his performance was down. To the point that he no longer gravitated to the playing field.
As if he had lost strength and confidence after the episode in Tucumán, when in a match against Atlético (February 14) for the League Cup he disobeyed Martín Demichelis’ order for Miguel Borja to kick a penalty, which Barco missed twice since it was executed twice due to the rival goalkeeper overtaking. After that event, he continued to be the starter for another month and a half and after the defeat against Huracán, at the end of March, he lost his position.
Barco could not continue the great first half of 2023, when their best performances were seen. It coincided with the arrival of Demichelis to the technical direction, who made him play in the center, in a role similar to that of a hooker, and achieved an explosion in the footballer. It was in the Professional League that River won.
Barco was coming off a 2022 with ups and downs. He had arrived in River at the request of Marcelo Gallardo at the beginning of that year. He arrived on loan from Atlanta United of the MLS, from which River later bought his pass, in an investment, between both operations, that reached 11 million dollars, leaving the American club a 50% capital gain in a future sale, which It’s going to happen now. Then, River recovers the investment and will have fresh money to use since Spartak Moscow would pay the money in one or two paymentsa detail that will be resolved in the next few hours.
Núñez’s institution is not withdrawing from the market. Goes for more. In fact, he will seek to revive the possibility of hiring Uruguayan striker Luciano Rodríguez, whose move to Girona in Spain fell through. River had already made an attempt for the Liverpool striker from Uruguay, who was a figure in the U-20 and U-23 of La Celeste, but was rejected. At that time, he offered 12 million dollars for 70% of the pass. If it is done now, it would be for a similar figure. This situation also occurs because the negotiations for Adam Bareiro stalled. And if River specifies the Uruguayan, it could give up on the Paraguayan since it has no more foreign quotas for now.