The youth player completed another great performance and was applauded by the Metropolitan
“When a boy plays, how he plays So you have to accompany him and take him in the best way not to rush him. He has an important present. Football has no age, but has players who have the personality to play and that’s what counts”. Simeone’s word. Pablo Barrios is not the future. He is present. First, because the coach suspects that over time the internal competition must be strengthened Second, because the club has been trying to boost its academy’s talent for some time, and third, because if the fan suspects that playing for this Atleti is cheap, there’s nothing better than paying that price with a child’s coin that captures enthusiasm, energy and personality. Barrios is not the solution to the sea of problems that is overwhelming the team, but he is a flower in the desert, an interesting bet and a boy who has two qualities that are missing in the team. First, the ball does not burn his feet. And second, always deliver it in better conditions than you receive it. With that, in this Atleti, enough and enough.
Barrios, who had already scored and was one of the best in the cup, saw how Simeone gave him the chance to start over. The coach trusted, the locker room supported, the boy obeyed, and the stands, looking forward to having reasons to break their hands to applaud, sent him off with a standing ovation. The work pays off. And the people of Atleti are grateful. Barrios protected the ball well, delivered it accurately, completed many forward passes and was in charge of searching and finding Griezmann and Joao Félix. Easy to say, hard to do. In a team where there is still a world to improve, in a club where no one knows if Joao will leave or stay and in a grandstand involved in various emotional conflicts for which he sings, cheers or jeers to the protagonists, as it seems for every sector , Barrios unites the staff. When there are people who sing to Simeone while others show their ingratitude by whistling, when there are people who cheer Joao while others exclaim, and when there are people who yell at Gil when others are not encouraged, Barrios brings everyone to agreement. Unanimous.
The boy likes it, he has talent, he is encouraged to try and when they threw him the first team shirt, it was not too big, but very small. It’s too soon to throw the bells right away with Pablo, but the boy is great news in a club that has been begging for too many months for a burning nail to cling to. If football is an illusion, Barrios conveys it. For many that is nothing. For athletics, it’s everything. If the laughter goes to Barrios, it’s from Atleti to Pablo.
Reuben Uria
Source: Goal