Valentin Barco voted WAB May 2024 Brighton Player of the Month

May 28, 2024 WeAreBrighton.com 0 Comments

Valentin Barco gave Brighton fans a glimpse into the future through May 2024 as he was voted the final Player of the Month of the Roberto De Zerbi Era.

The 19-year-old shone in 135 minutes of football against top eight finishers Chelsea and Manchester United to take the crown with 37.79 percent of the vote.

Barco replaced the injured Lewis Dunk at half time of the 2-1 Amex defeat to the Blues. He was an absolute livewire from left back, especially in the closing stages where Chelsea were left desperately hanging on for three points.

Given the Blues’ well-known recruitment policy is buy anything vaguely decent from Brighton, it would not be a surprise for a summer bid from Todd Boehly of £273 million to be incoming for Barco’s services.

Barco kept his place for the visit of United. He looked more defensively sound against the Red Devils in a game Brighton dominated until two late goals from the visitors.

Whoever succeeds Roberto De Zerbi as Albion head coach should be very excited about working with Barco next season. Unless of course it is Graham Potter. Glow Up’s phobia of wide players who run with the ball will probably see Barco reinvented as a centre back or something.

Second place behind Barco in May 2024 Brighton Player of the Month went to Adam Webster. The defender has struggled for form and fitness this season but enjoyed a strong finish after being recalled for the 1-0 win over Aston Villa.

Webster marked Ollie Watkins out of the game to help the Albion to a clean sheet. He followed that up with a good performance at Newcastle and did not put a foot wrong against Chelsea or United.

One brilliant last ditch sliding clearance against the Blues prevented a certain goal. And with a bit more luck in the United game, he could have had a hat-trick. Webster went close with three first half headers.

Carlos Baleba and Bart Verbruggen tied for third place as nothing could separate them on 13.37 percent of the vote.

Verbruggen kept a clean sheet against Villa and followed up with a string impressive saves in the 1-1 draw at Newcastle United.

He has ended the season in excellent form, including topping the March and April WAB Brighton Player Ratings.

Baleba meanwhile offers further encouragement over what a good team the Albion might possess in several years. He was the best midfielder on the pitch in the United game, despite the Red Devils possessing the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

There were shades of Yves Bissouma in the way he strode around the pitch, looking strong both defensively and going forward.

Particularly exciting were the first signs of a potentially rich partnership with Barco in that United game. In the first half, Baleba took possession on the edge of the United box. He spotted a gap through which to play Barco for a one-on-one the left back probably should have done better with.

It is going to be fun watching those two in future.