The Daily Dirt, December 28: To Barco, or Not to Barco

Disclaimer: This is my take on the #BarcoWatch “drama” and they are only my opinions.

Andrew (Me): Do you enjoy hearing about a player for more than a month that may or may not ever play for the team?

Average Atlanta United fan: Not really.

A: Well then, would you like to hear from the Vice President of the club, that said player is from, about how he quickly changed his valuation of his own player after a cup run?

AU Fan: Ehh...

A: And that same club is asking for double the price without any other known bidders involved!

AU Fan: Should we even be consid-

A: I present to you, Ezequiel Barco of Independiente!

In all seriousness, this Barco situation is being dragged out far beyond what most of us originally anticipated. The way I look at what is happening is that Independiente undervalued Barco and was ready to send him to Atlanta until his performances in the Copa Sudamericana. Realizing their mistake, they now they have doubled their asking price for him. The problem for Independiente is they don’t have a ton of leverage (aka there is no other known team involved yet) to be asking for double the original offer.

Side Note:

Our Joe Patrick made a couple of really good articles discussing how to deal with all this offseason madness, as well as what are other options for Atlanta if the Barco deal falls through. Check them out if you have not already!

Domestic

Reports: Portland Timbers in on Paraguayan youth international Paredes (MLS)

Report: Atlanta United’s bid for Ezequiel Barco rejected; Independiente want twice as much money (DSS)

Report: Orlando City SC to meet with Turkish club Besiktas about Cyle Larin (MLS)

International

Kekuta Manneh departs MLS for Pachuca in Liga MX (MLS)

Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool to sign Southampton defender for world record £75m (BBC)

Neymar Says He Almost Lost Ability to Walk from 2014 World Cup Back Injury (BleacherReport)