Market values Argentina: Valentin Barco stands out - Boca closes gap to River

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Copa Libertadores semifinalist Boca Juniors are the biggest winners of the Argentina market value update. In an update that included 194 players active in the Copa de la Liga Profesional de Fútbol, Boca saw its squad value increase by €12 million to €79.5m, significantly reducing the gap to rivals River Plate. Despite strong domestic performances, River exited the Libertadores at the round of 16 stage and dropped €6.7m in market value to €92.8m. Another reason why Boca has reduced the gap is super talent Valentín Barco. 

“Barco is without a doubt the most promising and most valuable player at Boca Juniors and after Nicolás de la Cruz, who remains at €11m, the most valuable player in Argentine with a market value of €10m,” Area Manager for Argentina and South America Scott Christensen said. “Nicknamed ‘Colo,’ Barco saw his market value increase by €6.5m. Formerly a left-back, Barco is now mostly used as a forward, and his new market value makes him one of the 40 most valuable Argentines on the planet and one of the 20 most valuable players born in 2004. There is no doubt that he will receive several offers in the upcoming transfer window as he combines a personality and attributes that are hard to find on the market, especially when you consider that he is only 19.”

Another player whose market value has gone up significantly is Benjamín Rollheiser from Estudiantes de La Plata. The right winger saw his market value increase by €5m to €8m—the second-highest increase behind Barco. “Rollheiser was excellent both in the league but also in the Copa Sudamericana and has been linked with a move to Newcastle United,” Christensen said. Now level with Rollheiser is the 19-year-old Agustín Giay (+€3.5m), as well as Brian Aguirre (+€4m), Pablo Solari (+€1m), Federico Redondo (+€4m) and Aníbal Moreno, who remains the same after this market value update. 

Market values Argentina: River Plate with the most downgrades

At River Plate age has been the biggest reason for many downgrades. Pity Martínez (-€2m to €5m), Manuel Lanzini (-€1m to €5m), Nacho Fernández (-€0.8m to €2.2m), Miguel Borja (-0.7m to €3.8m), Franco Armani (-0.7m to €1.5m), Matías Suárez (-€0.7m to €0.3m) and Salomón Rondón (-€0.5m to €1m) are a few players, who saw their market values decrease—all of those players are now older than 30.

“The age factor aside, Lanzini, Martínez, or Edinson Cavani—he plays at Boca and drops by €500,000 to €2.5m—are all players who returned to Argentina from stronger leagues and, therefore, must have a lower market value. The two first-named players are both 30 and are still among the 30 most valuable players in Argentina.” Other players that were downgraded are Walter Bou (-€0.5m to €2m), Luca Langoni (-€1m to €5m) and Johan Carbonero (-€0.8m to €3.2m).   

Stats

E. Cavani Centre-Forward

CA Boca Juniors

Career stats–
All competitions

Games

29

Goals

12

Assists

0

How Transfermarkt market values work

The Transfermarkt market values are calculated, taking into account various pricing models. A major factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, the Transfermarkt market values are not to be equated with transfer fees. 

The goal is not to predict a price but an expected value of a player in a free market. Both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market values. Examples of this are listed below. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (you can find the detailed market value definition here).