Roberto De Zerbi expresses optimism about the potential growth of Valentin Barco at the club, drawing parallels with the development of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister.
The 19-year-old, who recently made the switch from Boca Juniors, secured a four-and-a-half-year deal until the summer of 2028. Barco, versatile in positions such as left-back, wing-back, winger, or midfielder, is currently with Argentina's under-23s as they aim to qualify for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Despite the distance, the head coach looks forward to working with him, aspiring to nurture the players' talents similar to how Caicedo and Mac Allister flourished at Brighton before moving on to Chelsea and Liverpool, respectively.
"He’s the target of the club and we respect that. We work to help any young player who wants to become better and to progress. Barco is one of these players - so is Billy Gilmour, Jan Paul van Hecke, Facundo Buonanotte and before them, it was Alexis Mac Allister, and Moises Caicedo. We have to respect it."
The Italian coach added: "We have to watch on the pitch before we can say anything more. You can know the players on video, but sometimes you can find different characteristics and details in person. The real potential you can see on the pitch."
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