Universitario is the main candidate to be crowned champion of the Clausura Tournament 2023 thanks to the good level shown by the team as the days go by, which began to take shape in the victory against Melgar away from home, a match where Alfonso Barco participated.
YOU CAN SEE: Universitario sends a strong message as Clausura's leader: "We play this final together"
The 21-year-old midfielder entered in the last minutes of the match played in Arequipa and celebrated euphorically when the final whistle sounded, without knowing that it was going to be the end of his time in 'U' after a year and a half in the squad.
How did Barco arrive at Universitario?
Barco del Solar arrived at the university store at the beginning of 2022 with a great burden on his back, carrying two historic surnames in the institution (due to his uncle 'Chemo' and his father Álvaro, creamy footballers from the 1990s).
In his time as a merengue, he tried to maintain regularity, but his performance on the field was not as expected and he began to be constantly criticized by the fans, to the point of being absent for several matches in the middle of the season. In total, he played 45 games without scoring and assisting once.
Alfonso Barco, starter and standout at Defensor Sporting
To the surprise of many, 'Fonchi' was loaned to Defensor Sporting last August. In his first months, he was not considered by DT Marcelo Méndez, but everything changed in the last few weeks, where he played a full match and from there he did not leave the starting lineup.
"Alfonso Barco arrived at Defensor immersed in a climate of chaos, uncertainty, and criticism from Universitario fans. Since he arrived, he has been the best on the team. And if he isn't, he's very close. Intelligent, effective, and elegant. He is a key piece. Very interesting characteristics," published Uruguayan journalist Nico Musetti about the performance of the Peruvian.