The move of Argentine midfielder Ezequiel Barco from River Plate to Moscow Spartak is facing a delay due to complications in transferring funds from Russia to Argentina. This update comes from Euro-Football.Ru, where South American journalist Herman Balcare provided an in-depth account of the situation.
Balcare noted that there is clear, mutual understanding and agreement between River Plate and Spartak about the terms of the deal. The parties have agreed on the core parts of the contract, the player’s role, and the sporting objectives tied to the transfer. What remains unsettled, he explained, are the legal and financial mechanics that govern international money transfers between the two countries. River Plate’s management is described as thorough and in control of all compliance and due diligence, ensuring that every step aligns with club policy and national regulations. The player himself is waiting in Moscow for the paperwork to be finalized so he can begin integrating with his new teammates and coaching staff. Balcare added that, in his view, the deal has solid foundations and is unlikely to collapse over these procedural hurdles.
In the most recent season, Barco appeared in 28 matches across all competitions for River Plate. He contributed two goals and delivered seven assists, illustrating his ability to influence games from the midfield and participate actively in the team’s attacking initiatives. His early career includes call-ups to Argentina’s Under-20 and Under-23 national teams, and he has earned three caps with the Olympic squad, highlighting his status as a promising talent within the national system. These credentials underscore why Spartak and other interested clubs have pursued his signature, even as financial and regulatory steps must be navigated carefully.
The broader transfer window context reflects a period where clubs often face friction between sporting ambitions and cross-border financial controls. The Moscow club is reportedly patient and confident that the financial framework will be resolved without altering the sporting agreement or the player’s obligations. Meanwhile, a former general director of Dynamo Makhachkala commented that recent movements in this market tend to finish as draws or stalemates only to swing decisively once the financial details are cleared, a sentiment that aligns with Balcare’s cautious optimism about the imminent completion of the transfer.