TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report
The Ezequiel Barco transfer saga appears to be nearing its end, with Atlanta United set to smile wide after reportedly getting their man.
ESPN.com reported on Friday that Independiente have reached a transfer agreement with Atlanta over Barco, the talented 18-year-old Argentine that the MLS club has been pursuing heavily this offseason. The deal for the attacking midfielder allegedly includes a transfer fee worth $15 million and 30 percent of any future transfer before December 2019, which will become 10 percent for any future transfer that takes place in 2020 or beyond.
The reports also appeared in two other major Argentine outlets, TyC Sports and Olé. The latter indicated Barco would travel to the United States on Saturday and sign a five-year contract.
The transfer fee, as reported, would be the largest in MLS history, surpassing that of Michael Bradley in 2013. Toronto FC reportedly paid AS Roma $10 million for Bradley that year.
Independiente later posted a congratulatory message to Barco on his departure, without specifying any details.
Barco is coming off an impressive season with Independiente in which he helped the Argentine side win the Copa Sudamericana, South America's equivalent to the UEFA Europa League. He has started five of the eight league games he has played in and scored once in the current campaign. Last season, he netted four goals in 30 Superliga appearances.
