After Chelsea officially announced the signing of Barentin Barco, some fans said that "the weekend was ruined."
The Argentine player has joined Chelsea from their French sister club Strasbourg, on a contract that runs until 2033.
The 22-year-old Barco is best known to England fans for his involvement in the conflict between England and Argentina during the World Cup.
When the Three Lions missed their chance to reach the final, the England midfielder ran onto the pitch to celebrate Argentina's winning goal, an act that particularly displeased Bellingham. The Real Madrid player clashed with Barco after the final whistle and even slapped him on the back of the head.
Despite Barco's already alienating image among many English fans, Chelsea proceeded with the transfer. Many Three Lions fans, who also support Chelsea, initially hoped the club would choose other targets. Judging from social media reactions, they were not satisfied.
One person wrote, "He gets booed at every away game he plays in the country; hopefully he's prepared for that."
Another person said, "Thank you, my weekend is now ruined."
The third commenter said, "Rent him out immediately."
The fourth-place finisher exclaimed, "Aa ...
The fifth person angrily retorted: "Sell him out."
Another person added: "The most boring transfer ever."
Barco does have Premier League experience, having previously played for Brighton, but he failed to establish himself with the Seagulls and was subsequently loaned to Sevilla and Strasbourg. Strasbourg made his loan permanent at the end of the 2024/25 season after securing European qualification.
Last season, Barco made 43 appearances in all competitions, scoring 12 goals. His outstanding performance earned him a place in Scaloni's World Cup squad.
