Pablo Barrios

Barrios was a regular figure in Atletico's midfield for the first half of the season, finishing with one goal and one assist across 23 La Liga appearances, including 20 starts in 1,666 minutes. His campaign was repeatedly disrupted by muscle injuries, with three separate thigh issues limiting his availability before a left thigh injury suffered in late April ended his season prematurely and ruled him out of the Champions League semifinals against Arsenal. When healthy, Barrios remained one of manager Diego Simeone's most trusted midfield options, contributing both defensively and as a ball carrier capable of breaking lines. His recurring injury history is the central storyline heading into 2026/27, and how well he manages a clean preseason will likely determine whether he can finally deliver a full, uninterrupted campaign. If healthy, Barrios profiles as one of the more well-rounded midfield options in Atletico's squad, with enough box-to-box ability to contribute in multiple statistical categories.