Selected for the Spanish team! Barrios: I left Real Madrid when I was 14, but I m grateful for the experience
Atletico Madrid player Barrios, who was selected for the Spanish team, was interviewed and talked about his growth experience, the Spanish national team, Torres and Simeone and other topics.
Q: During these days in the national team, how many times have you thought back to your time playing in Moratales?
Answer: To be honest, not much. I didn't think much about that.
Question: What do you still have about you who used to play football on the streets?
Answer: Every time I pass by there, I will think of it a lot. I remember after school on Friday, we had to run to the pitch in Moratales to play in our own league. That memory is still very clear to this day.
Q: Do you go back often?
Answer: If you have time and opportunity, yes. I don’t live as close to home now, but I’ll try to go back. I like it there.
Q: When did you realize you were going to be a football player?
Answer: I don’t know. To be honest, I never stopped to think: "I'm going to be a football player." I play football because I have fun and I love it. Of course when you get to the reserves you think: "Let's see if they call me up and see what happens." But to say "I'm going to be a football player", no.
Q: Is sports a priority at home?
A: Well, it’s not really a priority. From a young age they tell us to do sports. I chose football because I loved it, and my sister did rhythmic gymnastics because she loved it and was good at it. If I had chosen tennis or any other sport, there would be no problem.
Q: Did you carry the ball with you all day long?
Answer: Yes. Since I was a child, I have often played football with my friends in the community and also at school. Then I told my parents that I wanted to play in Moratales and they signed me up.
Q: Do you only play football?
Answer: Yes, I only played football when I was a kid. But then in school, I got hooked on basketball. Don't know why, but I like basketball very much.
Q: Was there any partner at that time who made you think: "This guy is better than me"?
Answer: In school... I don’t know, I can’t say. I don’t think so (laughs).
Q: Where is the gold medal from the Paris Olympics?
Answer: To be honest, it’s not here. At a friend of mine's place. For one reason or another, I finally left it at his house, but he hasn't returned it to me yet.
Q: What's going on?
Answer: He took it away not long ago because I moved. Then, he never brought it back to me.
Q: We saw that you made some friendly gestures towards your former teammates and current opponents. But at the end of the day, you're still friends. Football has left that behind too, right?
A: Yes, I think this is the beauty of football. You get to know a lot of teammates and develop special bonds with a lot of people. I have a lot of friends that I met through football and I will always be grateful for that.
Q: Last November, you were selected as a substitute for the Spanish national team due to an injury.
Answer: I didn’t know it at the time. I remember we had a U21 game that day. I was doing treatment with the physio in the evening and we had to stop because Santi, the coach, came over and said I had to go to Tenerife.
Q: This selection is highly anticipated. Do you know what's going on?
Answer: It’s not that I’m looking forward to this time more, but I do have the feeling of “see if I’ll be lucky enough to be selected.” Especially, unfortunately, there have been a lot of injuries recently. But no, I didn't take it as a done deal.
Q: How did you learn about it?
Answer: Halfway through the training, the team’s liaison officer came over and told me.
Q: Did you make a lot of jokes?
Answer: No, they are all very happy for me.
Q: Did you receive any special message when you saw your phone?
Answer: Yes, I received a lot of news. Of course, family, friends... they were all very happy. But to be honest, nothing too out of the ordinary.
Q: So now, how do you feel here?
Answer: Very good. Very lucky. I always say that being here is a reward for the hard work you have done at the club. Being with these teammates, they are all at the top level...it's a lot of fun, to be honest.
Q: You were born on June 15, 2003. In 2010 you were seven years old. What memories do you have of the star you now wear on your chest?
Answer: I remember it very clearly. We watched it in Moratales' neighborhood. They put up a projector and let us all watch it together. Everyone gathered in the courtyard.
Q: I must have jumped into the swimming pool in the end.
Answer: Yes, yes, yes. As soon as the game was over, we all jumped into the pool.
Q: Can we have another "pool party" like this?
A: I hope so, isn’t it? There's still a long way to go, but hopefully.
Q: Have you ever imagined yourself participating in the World Cup?
A: I always say: I hope so. I won't think about that now. Just thinking about continuing to play, improve, and perform well so that I can continue to get here.
Q: You talked about your mother very naturally. What is it like for a child to lose his mother?
A: I'm handling it very well now. But it was very difficult at the time. I was having a really bad time. I always say I have football to thank for that. Without football, I don’t know what would have happened. It helped me overcome a lot. I will always be grateful for that.
Q: That vacancy will always exist. Is it an ongoing thought?
A: Not when I’m competing because I’m very focused then.. But when I walk out of the tunnel, or like there's a moment of silence, yeah, that's when I think of her.
Q: Has this incident made you stronger?
Answer: Maybe. I won't deny it. Maybe it made me more mature. But I remember her with great fondness. I think of her often. Of course, I wish this had never happened, but I keep her in my heart.
Q: Let’s talk about the 5-2 victory over Real Madrid. Was that your best day as an Atletico Madrid player?
A: I don’t know if it was the best day, but it was a great day. I enjoyed it very much, the team performed well and everything was perfect. That was a perfect day.
Q: You wear No. 8 for Aragones. Torres and Simeone have both coached you. Pure Atletico blood.
A: Atletico Madrid is my home and I hope to stay here for many years.
Q: What does Torres mean to you?
Answer: It means a lot. During my year in the reserve team, he helped me a lot both in football and in my personal life. I learned a lot from him and yes, you could say he was like my godfather in football. He was a huge help in being where I am today.
Q: What about Simeone?
A: My other football godfather.
Q: Which player do you think your style is similar to?
Answer: It’s hard to name just one. I have played both as a defensive midfielder and in a more advanced position. I can adapt to what the coach asks of me. I don’t have a fixed position.
Q: Do you know your ideal position?
Answer: To be honest, I don’t know. I think I can play anywhere in the midfield. It's not a problem for me to play forward or back.
Q: You broke the stereotype of the "two-meter-tall" midfielder.
Answer: (laughing) Well, what do Xavi and Iniesta say? Football has changed, it's more physical, but talent and brains are still important. There are players now who are super strong but still have talent and intelligence.
Q: When you were at Real Madrid, they asked you to try out as a centre-back
A: Yes, when you were a kid. I'm seven years old. I play that position and I love it.
Q: Don’t you want to score goals like all the kids?
Answer: I also scored goals when I played as a central defender. When I was a kid, I played football just to score goals, no matter what position I played.
Q: When you were 14 years old, Real Madrid told you that you couldn’t stay.
A: I accepted it naturally at the time. I'm still very young. And I’m forever grateful to them because it’s because of that that I’m where I am today.
Q: You don’t seem to have any resentment at all.
Answer: Not at all. Zero resentment. I even have a lot of friends who are Real Madrid fans. Half and half, I'd say.
Q: What next?
Answer: (laughing) As long as it’s not against Real Madrid, they will support Atletico Madrid. They support me. Even wearing my jersey to the stadium.
Q: Do they often talk to you about handling the ball with both feet or other competitive topics?
Answer: No, no. Like I said, if I play, they will support Atletico.
Q: It feels like when you left Real Madrid to join Atletico Madrid, you took that step that brought you closer to becoming a professional player.
Answer: No, no... not really. Not to mention being so young at the time. I didn't even think about that at the time, to be honest.
Q: Aragones and Torres are just one step away from winning the Champions League. What would it be like if it could be achieved?
A: That would be a dream. Winning it for the first time with this club would make history. It would be unbelievable, as the PSG players experienced. That would be awesome.
Q: It’s a strange start to the season. First it was a crisis, then it got better, and now it’s a trough again.
Answer: I don’t think there is that big a difference in our playing styles. The results did not reflect our performance. The ball just didn’t want to go into the net. Sometimes things are exaggerated too much.
Q: We live on a roller coaster of public opinion, don’t we?
Answer: Absolutely. When you're in good shape, you're at the top. If you lose, you're in crisis. That's the way it is. You media are well aware of this.
source:7m vn livescore
