Liam Rosenior eyes Chelsea reunion with ex-Premier League defender now starring in new role

Gary O’Neil is reaping the rewards as manager of Strasbourg from one of Liam Rosenior’s former protegees – but it may not be for long.

Valentin Barco has undergone a dramatic transformation in Alsace from a flying full-back into one of Ligue 1’s top young midfielders.

Getty

The 21-year-old was once tipped as Brighton’s ‘next £100million player’ upon his arrival at the Amex in January 2024.

Barco signed for the Seagulls for £7.87m on a four-and-a-half-year deal, having been scouted by Manchester United and Man City.

The then left-back initially hinted at living up to the hype during his first six months in England, after impressing against the Red Devils, Pep Guardiola‘s men, and indeed, Chelsea.

Valentin Barco: FPL favourite to Strasbourg playmaker

Pervis Estupinan underwent surgery in April 2024, which hinted at Barco being Brighton’s first-choice for the start of the 24/25 season.

The one-cap Argentinian international started the final pre-season friendly under Fabian Hurzeler before the Premier League restarted.

The hype around Barco became so huge that nearly 25 per cent of FPL managers selected him in their squads ahead of the season.

He became the most owned defender in the £4.0million price bracket, and yet was sent on loan to Sevilla after Gameweek 2.

Six months later, Barco was then loaned to Strasbourg and helped Rosenior’s men qualify for this campaign’s Conference League.

The 5ft 7in starlet completed a permanent switch to ‘Le Racing’ last July, where he has since continued to go from strength to strength.

Getty

Getty

Barco stats and Chelsea transfer latest

The Argentine has scored one goal and registered four assists in 17 Ligue 1 appearances under Rosenior and now O’Neil this season.

He is joint top for big chances created with nine alongside former Chelsea man Diego Moreira, another of Rosenior’s success stories.

At Strasbourg in Ligue 1 this season, Barco also ranks first for ball touches (1271) and second for successful passes (812).

Out of possession, he sits second in the club’s charts for contests won (18), total distance covered (178.29 km), and successful tackles (22).

Even more impressively, those stats come despite Barco missing two Ligue 1 matches through suspension and illness late last year.

AFP

‘Barco was such an important player for Rosenior’

Barco has started all three matches of O’Neil’s tenure, but a further ban has ruled him out of facing Paris Saint-Germain this Sunday.

And that might be a window into what’s to come, with Chelsea interested in signing yet another of their BlueCo affiliate players.

On Barco’s change into a midfield force, European football expert Andy Brassell told talkSPORT: “It’s come from Liam Rosenior, actually.

“I think it really underlines how good Rosenior is with individual players.

“What he’s been able to do to Moreira, Barco, who I know they’re interested in. I know Chelsea and Rosenior are interested in him.

Getty

Getty

“And actually, to a growing extent, I think you can say Martial Godo, who’s been increasingly good in the last couple of months.

“But it’s interesting when you look at a fullback who’s as good on the ball as Barco.

“It’s kind of a relatively simple thing to get him to play this inside left sort of role, quite similar to probably Raphaël Guerreiro’s best spot, actually. He still plays left-back for Portugal, but that’s just because no one else will do it, really.

“I think, really, if you look at him, he’s best used in midfield because he’s such a good passer of the ball, because he’s such an intelligent runner, because he can even get in the box and score goals.

“All those sorts of things, you’d rather him be a little higher up the pitch.

“Barco was such an important player for Rosenior that even before the speculation, to me it seemed obvious that he’s the player, every coach wants a player who can run things for him.

“It’s a little bit like, if we’re going way back, Vincent Kompany going to Burnley and bringing Josh Cullen from Anderlecht. A guy who can interpret on the pitch what my sort of football wants to be.

“I spoke to a couple of the Chelsea players at NBA London, Joao Pedro and Malo Gusto, and they were both, well, it is way different under Liam Rosenior, and they seem to quite enjoy that and embrace it.

“But on the other hand, I think if you can have a player on the pitch that says, ‘Right, this is how we get organised, I think it’s enormously helpful.'”