MADRID, 24 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Atlético de Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios has assured that the rojiblanco club, with which he has been promoted to the first team this week and has renewed until 2028, has given him “everything”, both “on the field” and “in values”. , and he hopes to be able to restore his confidence in a team that he watched “on TV” until recently.

“I arrived at Atleti when I was a cadet and Atleti has given me everything, not only on the pitch, but also in values. I have no choice but to thank them,” he declared in an interview with the club’s official media. “Less than a year ago I came here, with the youth team, to go out at half-time, and now I can play in front of the fans. I still can’t believe it, it seems like that was a long time ago but it happened less than a year ago and it’s incredible” he went on.

This Monday, the midfielder renewed his contract with Atlético de Madrid until June 30, 2028 and became a first-team player, something that means “fulfilling a dream”. “You are already part of a dressing room of players and coaching staff that you never saw on TV. Being part of the first team is incredible and all that remains is to continue working to give my best for the team,” he said. “Since I started playing football, I dreamed of one day reaching the first team. Once you’ve achieved it, it seems very strong and you don’t believe it,” he added.

Barrios, 19, made his debut with the first team in the LaLiga Santander match at Nuevo Mirandilla, where Diego Pablo Simeone’s men lost to Cádiz (3-2). “They called me for the Cádiz game and I still didn’t believe it. When you’re warming up in the band and suddenly they call you, you feel a rush. The ‘Cholo’ always told me to be calm, to do it as he had always done in the subsidiary, that he crossed me, that he was not afraid. I always try not to get very nervous, I tried to do the best possible and I was very calm”, he pointed out.

Weeks later, he started against FC Barcelona. “You don’t believe it, because not long ago I was watching Atleti-Barça on TV. That day the coach told me that I was going to play at the start, against Barça, at home, with our fans… The only bad thing was the result, but the experience was very nice”, said the footballer, who has played eight games with the ‘Cholo’ team.

“The fans have given me incredible affection, I thank them very much and I will try to return it to them on the field. I’m looking forward to doing it,” he said about the mattress fans.

Finally, Barrios spoke about his experience in Fernando Torres’ Juvenil. “Since the beginning of the year we knew that it was going to be very nice with Fernando, our coach. Working with him is amazing. We form a great group, with a great job in the League and the Youth League. The key to the Academy is That all the teams are, above all, a team. Many boys are going to be given the opportunity”, he concluded.