who is Pablo Barrios, the last youth squad of Atlético

And on the mud of the field Spiny A youth squad emerged: Pablo Barrios (19 years old). The boy emerges at the club’s darkest moment in the Simeone era. He debuted in Cadiz, with defeat, demonstrating personality and character when asking for the ball despite adversity. And his second appearance was not kinder: the final minutes of another lost game, in Porto, which meant saying goodbye to Europe. “I liked Barrios. I have the good taste that an interesting boy is appearing“said Cholo that night after disregarding the inferiors for years.

The third time Barrios started and scored a decisive goal. Those who have coincided with him in the Juvenil locker room that he supervises and forms Fernando Torres They assure that he is a “super humble” kid, with a well-focused head, and that “he has everything” to reach the elite: talent and the capacity for sacrifice. Proof of his strength is that last year he had to overcome a very hard blow, the death of his mother. He took refuge in soccer, he became even more responsible, as if he wanted to honor her. And at that moment, the figure of Torres became important, who treated him with special care to help him overcome. Something that he achieved supported by his two main pillars, his father, who played in the Moscardo in the 90s, and her sister, who practices rhythmic gymnastics.

His name sounded loud after a stellar performance there where it seems that everything rumbles with a greater power: valdebebas. It was in the Youth League (the Youth Champions) where with two authentic goals, one after a beautiful dribble and another with a kick to the squad, and an assist eliminated his ex (2-3). Because yes, Barrios’ past is white. There he played for six years, from eight to fourteen, passing through the youngest, juniors and children, where he became the captain. But when he had to make the jump to cadets, in the Real Madrid They decided that it was no longer worth it. Atlético was quick to sign him and give flight to the career of a boy who gave his first kicks to a ball in Moratalaz.

After standing out with Fernando Torres’ Juvenil, League champions in the Division of Honor and reaching the Final Four of the Youth League, this season he has settled in Atlético de Madrid B, where he has played everything when he has been available, becoming in a fixed in the center of the field of Tevenet.

However, in the environment of the lower categories there are also those who appeal to the fact that it is necessary to have “patience” with the boy. “That they do not want to turn him into a new Fernando Torres so soon,” they warn. And they also warn that, although he has a great shot, he is not a scorer. Despite yesterday’s goal, he only added one more goal with the subsidiary, while last season, leaving aside the aforementioned double in the Youth League, he barely scored five goals in the League with Juvenil. Of course, well chosen, since he also scored precisely in the victory in Valdebebas (0-1).

International with the Under-19 team, shares an agent with Bale and Saul(Jonathan Barnett), this young promise was fixed as a child in iniesta and now he has Koke as his greatest reference. His mentor, Fernando Torres, is happy: “Seeing Barrios play with the seniors is exciting. He makes me remember when he touched me and it is difficult to explain what one feels ».

Simeone’s opportunistic bet, false or sincere, Pablo Barrios breaks into Atlético’s horizon against the curse of the homegrown players. From plagued to saving bullet.