Ezequiel Barco called up to Argentina under-20s

Ezequiel Barco has been called up to the Argentina national team’s under-20 squad. The manager of the squad, Fernando Batista, announced the list of players who’ll start with the squad when they begin training next week.

This is pretty big news for Barco. If he performs well in training and friendlies over the next few months it likely means he’ll be included in Argentina’s U-20 World Cup squad this year in Poland.

Barco was a controversial figure, to say the least, in Atlanta this year. After becoming the most expensive transfer in MLS history, somewhere around $15 million, he didn’t live up to expectations on or off the pitch.

A tour with the Argentinian national team at the U-20 World Cup might help Barco’s composure and consistency on the pitch. That’s the hope at least, it’ll be interesting to see him perform against the world’s best youngsters should he make the final squad.