Barrios Worth More Than United's Midfielders: Atlético Has a €500 Million Gem

The Premier League has the money, but the real treasure belongs to Atlético Madrid and lies in the hands of Pablo Barrios.

According to "Varzeh Se", the amount of 132.2 million euros that Manchester United spent last summer to close its midfield pair in the Metropolitano could not prevent the rule of the number eight of the red and whites.

The 23-year-old Barrios' €500 million release clause is only a deterrent, but his real value on the field goes beyond even that figure. After a stunning display of time management, breaking through opposition defenses and scoring the opening goal against Manchester United, Atletico's biggest relief is that Premier League clubs have yet to make a serious move to sign the distinctive star.

This issue becomes more apparent when considering the figure of 145 million euros that Manchester City paid for Enzo Fernandez or the big investments on players like Sandro Tonali and Mathieu Fernandez in Tottenham. The five biggest investments in defensive midfielders in the summer totaled €582 million, without their impact being comparable to that of Barrios.

Even Moroccan Ayoub Bouadi, with an estimated value of 95 million euros, shows that the actual purchase price of Barrios in the current market should be much higher than his release clause.

The present and future of Atlético Madrid is tied to Pablo Barrios, and his presence is vital to compete for trophies. There is no doubt that if Simeone had had this player in the FA Cup final or the Champions League semi-final last season, the results would have been different. Considering his recent injuries and his one-month absence from the field, the main concern of the head coach is the precise management of the star's playing minutes. Therefore, his early substitutions have been adopted in recent matches to reduce the pressure on his body and maintain his fitness and presence in the decisive moments of the season.