Jesús Barrios' time to shine | OneFootball

At the start of this season at La Academia, we find names from different teams who are standing out individually, regardless of their position or the number of goals scored. Iker Luque, Miguel Cubo, Arnau Ortiz, Guillermo Trujillano, and an endless list of promising young talents from our academy... but this time, we have to focus on just one. And it could only be Jesús Barrios.

The Jerez native, who joined Atlético de Madrid in June 2022 from the Cadete A team of Atlético Sanluqueño, has been making waves throughout his time as a rojiblanco. It's true that his year with Juvenil B was complicated in terms of performance and adaptation, but since then, he hasn't stopped growing. He was important in that magnificent season with Juvenil A Madrileño in group 7 of the División de Honor Juvenil, scoring 8 goals in around 1,700 minutes. The following year, with the team dissolved and promoted to the main Juvenil A (also under coach Luis Bueno), he emerged as one of the top scorers in group 5 with 14 goals in the league and another against Burgos in the Copa del Rey.

After delving into the context, it's time to look at both the moment he's experiencing and the profile he represents. The left winger was promoted to Atlético de Madrid C, which plays in group 7 of the Tercera Federación... although that wasn't his initial intention. In fact, he was one of those who requested to be loaned out to a team in a higher division, specifically Segunda RFEF, but things didn't work out and he had to settle for playing in the second reserve team.

Certainly, things aren't going badly for him. In the opening home match against RCD Carabanchel, he assisted Sergio Vinatea for the 1-0. In the second matchday, he scored in Tres Cantos the goal that gave the team led by Manel Ruano the victory. In the third, a hat-trick and a comeback in Majadahonda against México FC. And as if that weren't enough, he participated in both Youth League matches played so far, assisting Jorge Rajado for the 2-1 in the 94th minute against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The "pajarito," as his teammates call him, is an extremely vertical and fast-paced attacker down the left flank, with that street football style so characteristic of the past. He seems to bounce as he dribbles, feinting and deceiving any opponent who tries to stop him, taking on and beating defenders with an ease rarely seen in recent years. The kind of player who catches your eye at first glance. He isn't particularly smooth in his dribbling, not a trickster, but he takes great advantage of his speed and acceleration to break away and leave defenders behind. He doesn't just play out wide; on many occasions, he can be seen occupying central areas in the final third, as he likes to attack the spaces behind the midfielders.

In recent years, he has shown a goal-scoring ability that borders on extraordinary for a player in his position. Few are capable of producing between 10 and 15 goals as a winger, but Jesús Barrios breaks barriers and is destined to be vital both for Atleti C in their quest for promotion and for going as far as possible with Juvenil A in the Uefa Youth League under Ángel Donato.

Thanks to his performance and constant daily work, he had the opportunity to train this week with the first team, be called up, and make his debut, playing just over half an hour in the friendly in Libya against Inter Milan. Despite starting as a center forward, looking to get behind Acerbi, Bisseck, and company, he ended up playing in his natural position and showed plenty of quality when taking on and dribbling, attacking the spaces between the midfielder, full-back, and center-back, and even dared to shoot as soon as he reached the edge of the box, though without success. Donato, who was a commentator for the club's broadcast of the match, confirmed the words written here about the Andalusian.

“A dream come true to debut with Atlético de Madrid in a friendly against Inter Milan. Since I was little, I always dreamed of this moment. I am very grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity, especially to the residence that is always with me. Thanks to everyone who has accompanied me up to today, especially my family, friends, and Edu who have always helped me. Thanks also to those who are no longer here, but I know they watch over me wherever they are. Now it's time to keep working and fighting for more opportunities like these,” he stated on his social media hours after the match he will never forget.

After the hat-trick against México, the RFFM colleagues interviewed him and he made several statements. First, that he has no family connection to Pablo Barrios but would love to follow in his footsteps. Second, the adaptation in the first months was difficult because of family, but now he feels at home and is happy. And third, the rojiblancos he looks up to are Julián Álvarez and Antoine Griezmann.

It is truly a privilege to have a player of the caliber of Jesús Barrios in the academy, who renewed his contract until 2027 in the summer of 2024, and sooner rather than later we will see him in professional football. Oh, and no: he has nothing to do with Pablo Barrios.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.