Pablo Barrios reportedly impressed Iraola and the club’s hierarchy so much that initial contact was immediately made with the Atleti midfielder after Liverpool beat Atleti 2-1 at Anfield on Wednesday evening, according to a report by ITK Space.
The Reds were fantastic, recovering from going 1-0 down to yet another Marcos Llorente goal, with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.
A report was made on X, reading: “Pablo Barrios has put himself firmly on Liverpool’s radar after a standout display at Anfield, leaving a major impression on the club’s hierarchy and newly appointed head coach Andoni Iraola during last night’s Champions League meeting with Atlético Madrid.
“The impression extended deep into the Liverpool dressing room, with Barrios becoming a genuine topic of conversation among the players after the game, while Florian Wirtz also shared a brief exchange with the midfielder following the final whistle.”
? EXCL: Pablo Barrios has put himself firmly on Liverpool’s radar after a standout display at Anfield, leaving a major impression on the club’s hierarchy and newly appointed head coach Andoni Iraola during last night’s Champions League meeting with Atlético Madrid.
The… pic.twitter.com/vVp83i5AQq
— Space | ™ (@ITKSpace) September 10, 2026
More on Barrios’ contract, wages and potential transfer fee after
The 23-year-old was fantastic against Liverpool. He recorded a 91% pass accuracy despite the aggressive counter-press Iraola deployed, completing two key passes. He was really good at evading the Liverpool midfielders, with three successful dribbles and 25 carries.
Defensively, Barrios was fantastic despite losing the game. He made five defensive contributions: two tackles, two clearances, six ball recoveries and won 8 of his 12 ground duels. He was fouled twice and made one himself.
It’s not surprising to hear Liverpool might have acted immediately after the game to sound out his future, and I imagine he has been on their radar for some time already. His €150,000-a-week contract expires in July 2030, which means he will soon either sign a new deal or become a regular fixture in the transfer gossip columns.
ITK Space reports: “The Spaniard is represented by CAA Stellar, who maintain an excellent relationship with Liverpool and across the Premier League, with initial contact briefly made in the immediate aftermath of the game.
“The 23-year-old only recently renewed his contract at Atlético until 2030, but is now firmly among the names on LFC’s wider list for next summer, when midfield is expected to become a major area of focus.”