Ezequiel Barco Reportedly Benched For Romancing Teammate’s Girlfriend

Ezequiel Barco, the 19-year-old Argentine phenom who became Major League Soccer’s most expensive transfer when he joined Atlanta United for $15 million back in January, was withheld from Saturday’s match against DC United and will miss this weekend’s game against Montreal for “an act of indiscipline.” Now, SB Nation blog “Dirty South Soccer” is reporting two sources with knowledge of the situation say Barco is being “reprimanded for making romantic overtures toward a teammate’s girlfriend.” 

The young Designated Player hasn’t exactly been a revelation in MLS (he’s scored four goals and added one assist in 16 games), but his turn from a player drawing comparisons to Erik Lamela and Paulo Dybala to one being likened to John Terry and John Harkes isn’t what Tata Martino had in mind (Barco can just look at compatriot Mauro Icardi and the rumored reasons as to why he never plays for Argentina to be schooled in the dangers of a love triangle).

Here is what Tata Martino had to say about Ezequiel Barco not being available for today's game (or the next one). #ATLUTD #MLS #UniteAndConquer pic.twitter.com/5E6fu5bijc

— 11Alive Sports (@11AliveSports) July 21, 2018

If the rumors are true, Barco’s also got some issues at home. His Instagram is full of photos of time spent with wife Micaela Romero, who he married in February.  

Súper feliz de poder tenerte a mi lado, sos muy importante para mi lo sos todo te amo con todo mi corazón y quiero que sepas que a tu lado soy el hombre más feliz de mundo vayamos por mucho mas mi amor.. siempre juntos TE AMO y jamás voy a dejarte de amar @mica.romeero

A post shared by Esequiel Barco (@barco.ezequiel) on Jul 9, 2018 at 6:04pm PDT

Así siempre mi amor te amo

A post shared by Esequiel Barco (@barco.ezequiel) on Mar 4, 2018 at 4:54pm PST

The rumored teammate whose girlfriend Barco got involved with is 19-year-old American Brandon Vazquez. Vazquez is a forward from Chula Vista, California.

Barco’s next match will be the 2018 MLS All-Star Game against Juventus, where he’ll play in front of his home crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.