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According to Cesar Luis Merlo of TyC Sports in Argentina, Atlanta United is on the verge of signing one of the brightest young talents in South America and even the world. Rumors emerged last week that Atlanta was interested in signing 18-year-old Ezequiel Barco from Independiente. Now it’s being reported that the two clubs are set to agree to a deal that would allow the player to move to MLS after the Copa Sudamericana final is played in mid-December.
Ezequiel Barco se va al #Atlanta de la MLS. En horas, se firma un preacuerdo entre clubes y post final de Sudamericana, se rubrica el pase. A #Independiente le quedan u$s 12M, de los cuales 6 son al contado y los otros antes de fines de 2018. pic.twitter.com/61yoYNKnp7
— César Luis Merlo (@CLMerlo) December 4, 2017
Ezequiel Barco is going to the #Atlanta of the MLS. Within hours, signed a pre-agreement between clubs and final post of South American, is heading the pass. To #Independiente you are $12M, of which 6 are the cash and the others before the end of 2018. - Rough translation by Bing
It appears that Atlanta will get Barco for only $12 million, two less than the original $14 million that was reported earlier. They will pay two installments of $6 million over the course of a year.
The details are still sketchy, but it appears that this rumor has some serious legs. We’ll keep you updated with any more details that come out. For now though, it’s time to get excited but still remember that anything can happen in the world of soccer transfer rumors.