Esekiel Barko joined the 'Spartak' team in the summer of 2024 and immediately became the leader of the team. This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
Barko is currently the heart and driving force of 'Spartak'. He is the kind of player that the team has been missing for many years.
Recently, rumors have been increasing about the Argentine player's possible departure to South America. The publication 'Evro-Futbol.Ru' is discussing whether 'Spartak' should sell Barko and who could replace him if he leaves.
There are reasons why 'Spartak' should not sell Barko. His playing style has given the team a new breath, especially providing clear ideas and movements in attack.
Barko never backs down, always strives forward, seeks unconventional paths, and can make the right decisions in a short time. If Barko leaves, 'Spartak' will revert to the main playing style of previous times, which will lead to the team being weak and ineffective in attack.
Selling Barko now means losing another season. In modern conditions, it is difficult to find a quality player to replace him at a reasonable price, so the club needs to hold on to him.
Barko is 26 years old and can benefit 'Spartak' for many years. On the other hand, there are also opinions that he should be sold.
As a Latin American player, he may not want to stay in the team due to his personal life and family situation. According to rumors, his wife is forcing him to return to South America, otherwise threatening divorce and preventing him from seeing his child.
If Barko really wants to leave, the team should not expect much help from him next season. Currently, 'Flamengo' is offering 17 million euros for Barko, which is higher than the price 'Spartak' paid for him.
Therefore, it may be worth considering a sale, as if Barko performs poorly in the game, he can only be let go for a lower price in the middle of the season. The only player in 'Spartak' who could replace Barko is 21-year-old Daniil Zorin.
Currently, his experience is limited and his statistics are not very good, but if the coach gives him at least five minutes in a game, Zorin could show himself. Over time, it will be determined whether he can replace Barko or not.
For example, last summer, after losing their leader Maksim Glushenko, the young player Aleksey Batrakov took advantage of his opportunity. Therefore, 'Spartak' should also give Zorin a chance.
The best option is to keep both Barko and Zorin in the team. 'Spartak' should agree with Barko that if he really wants to leave, they will let him go next summer.
At the same time, Zorin should not be loaned out. Playing with Barko for a year would be a great experience for Zorin.
Coach Deyan Stankovich should give Zorin more playing practice and gradually integrate him into the team. If this happens, Barko's departure next year will not cause significant harm to the team.
Author: Dmitriy Milyaev
