Valentín Barco booed during Chelsea debut

Argentine midfielder Valentín “Colo” Barco was booed and whistled by fans during his official debut for Chelsea in an EFL Cup second-round match against Luton Town. The hostility from the crowd was linked to memories of the 2026 World Cup semifinal, where Argentina eliminated England in a 2-1 victory.

During that tournament, Barco was involved in a tense moment after celebrating Lautaro Martínez’s decisive goal in front of the English players, which led to a confrontation with Jude Bellingham following the match. This reception mirrors a recent experience for teammate Enzo Fernández, who also faced whistling from English supporters.

Despite the crowd's reaction, Barco played as a starter under manager Xabi Alonso. Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, with goals from Danny Welbeck and an own goal by Hakeem Odoffin, allowing the team to advance to the third round.