Jeff Larentowicz, who has seen a lot in his 363 regular-season appearances in MLS, knows exactly where teammate Ezequiel Barco will play this weekend:
“In Los Angeles, for Atlanta United,” he said.
Ha!
But two questions dominating Atlanta United conversations this week ahead of Saturday’s game against the Galaxy are:
- Will Barco start?
- What position will he play?
Barco, the most expensive transfer in MLS history at a reported cost of $15 million, made his debut in Atlanta United’s 2-2 draw last with NYCFC. He came on for midfielder Kevin Kratz in the 70th minute and slotted in on the right side of the midfield. Though right-footed, he was played as a left-sided midfielder during training camp and the preseason. He can also play striker.
Barco’s teammates were as curious as the team’s supporters about how he may be used this week because it’s been a while since they’ve consistently seen him in action.
“He’ll be somewhere close to the front line, on the wing or attacking midfield,” team captain Michael Parkhurst said. “I honestly don’t know what his best position is. It provides us flexibility.
“If I don’t know where he’s going to play, for sure L.A. Galaxy won’t know where he’s going to play. Little surprise for them as well.”
It seems likely that he will play. Hector Villalba, who has been the second striker, didn’t play last week and didn’t train with the team through Wednesday’s practices because of a hamstring strain. He is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game. Barco seems a natural replacement.
“Obviously a guy we think highly of and paid a lot of money for,” Parkhurst said.
To recap Barco’s journey to Atlanta United and the reason for the questions:
After months of negotiations that included Barco declining to train with his former team, Independiente, his transfer to MLS and Atlanta United was announced during the SuperDraft on Jan. 19 in Philadelphia. Barco arrived in the U.S. from Argentina on Jan. 30 and hit the training pitch in Championsgate, Fla. the next day.
Barco looked shaky playing in a monsoon in Nashville in the preseason opener on Jan. 10, but so did everyone because it was their first game and the conditions were horrible.
Barco looked slightly better in the second preseason game against Columbus in Charleston, S.C. It was clear that he was gaining and understanding and trust with his teammates with several of the passes that he attempted. He really started to shine with a goal and several sharp moves and passes in the draw with Minnesota on Feb. 21.
Barco missed the preseason finale against Charleston for “personal reasons,” which turned out to be a return to Argentina to get married.
He returned and began training with the first team for the season-opening game at Houston when he suffered a quad injury during practice on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
He sat out several weeks before he started running to test the quad. He re-joined the team for training on April 17, sat out the next day because it was a previously scheduled day off, and made the bench for the game against NYCFC. He had one shot, and showed an expected lack of familiarity with his teammates, according to manager Gerardo Martino.
“He just needs to get more game rhythm,” Martino said. “That’s all he’s missing at the moment. We know he’s a new player on the team. He hasn’t been training since the preseason. It’s logical that he needs to get know his teammates on the field and get to play with them more.”
Still, Barco had moments with one shot and taking on defenders near the penalty box. And he’s looked even better in training this week than he did in the preseason, according to his teammates.
“He’s got that explosive first step,” Parkhurst said. “Maybe not over 30-40 meters, but those quick combinations where he’s passing and moving and tough one-on-one in small, tight spaces, you could see it out there.”
So, where will he play, if he plays?
Barco has the speed and crossing ability to play wide should Martino use him similarly to Yamil Asad last year in a 4-3-3. He had five assists in 51 appearances for Independiente where he played mostly as a left winger, according to transfermarkt.co.uk. He has the finishing ability and quickness with his passes to play as the second striker beside Josef Martinez should the team continue to use 3-5-2. He scored eight goals for Independiente. Defensively, he's not as strong as Miguel Almiron, so it's unlikely Barco will play as a midfielder in that formation.
“Wherever he plays he’s going to change the dynamic of the team in a good way,” Larentowicz said.
