Cruzeiro has inquired about the terms for signing Spartak Moscow's 27-year-old Argentinian midfielder, Esequiel Barco, amid interest from Independiente. Several clubs have begun to ask about signing the player during this transfer window. Independiente has started discussions and sent an offer to the Russian club for a one-year loan without a fee, which includes an option to purchase 50% of his rights. It is considered highly probable that Cruzeiro will submit a monetary bid, which would make it difficult for the Avellaneda club to compete. According to reports, Barco wants to be closer to his family for at least one season. Barco's contract with Spartak Moscow is valid until June 2027, and he scored 8 goals with 7 assists in 29 Russian Premier Liga appearances during the 2025/2026 season. Transfermarkt estimates his current market value to be €16.00m. Spartak Moscow signed the player for a reported €14 million in July 2024. In September 2025, reports claimed the club was asking for around €17.2 million, and in the following month, it was reported they wanted to recover their initial €14 million investment.