CHELSEA fans have had their “weekend ruined” after the club announced the arrival of Valentin Barco.
The Argentina star has joined the Blues on a contract that will run until 2033 from Ligue 1 sister club Strasbourg.
Barco, 22, is best known to English football fans for his role in the provocations between England and Argentina at the World Cup.
The midfielder had run on to the pitch to celebrate Argentina’s winning goal as the Three Lions threw away the opportunity of reaching the final.
The actions were not appreciated by the England players, and in particular Jude Bellingham.
The Real Madrid man clashed with Barco at full-time and slapped him on the back of the head.
Regardless, ChelSea have pushed ahead with the transfer despite Barco becoming disliked by a lot of English fans.
Many of those Three Lions supporters also follow the Blues and would have preferred the club to have opted for other targets, judging by their reaction on social media.
One posted: “Going to get booed at every away ground in the country, hope he’s up for it.”
A second wrote: “Thanks my weekend is ruined now.”
A third commented: “Loan him immediately.”
A fourth said: “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.”
A fifth slammed: “Sell him.”
Another added: “Least exciting transfer.”
Barco does have experience of the Premier League having previously played for Brighton.
He failed to cement himself in the Seagulls’ team and eventually went out on loan at Sevilla and Strasbourg.
Strasbourg made his loan permanent at the end of the 2024/25 season after qualifying for European football.
Last season, Barco played in 43 games in all competitions and scored 12 times for the French side.
His impressive form saw him called up by Lionel Scaloni for Argentina’s World Cup squad.