In the last decade, FC Barcelona’s youth academy La Masia was considered the pinnacle of youth development. However, in recent times Real Madrid, a club that pride themselves on signing top world-class stars called Galacticos, has created stars of its own. Some of the best players to come out of the system recently are Arsenal’s creative genius Martin Odegaard, forward Alvaro Rodriguez, and Jaime Barroso, has also joined the list.
The 15-year-old who plays for Real Madrid’s youth team has scored goals left, right and centre this season. His rise perfectly fits Madrid’s new approach to developing or buying young talents. The acquisition of Brazilian teenage prodigy Vinicius Junior and his countryman Vinicius Tobias is a perfect example.
Barroso has come to notice this season with his brilliant finishing and poaching skills that have left defences bamboozled. While a senior-team debut may still be a season or two away, the youngster has shown that he is on the right path.
So, who is Jaime Barroso, and how good is he?
Who is Jaime Barroso?
Born on September 23, 2007, Jaime Barroso started his career at the youth academy of Rayo Vallecano. In the summer of 2022, though, Real Madrid came calling and signed him. While Barroso showed talent from a young age till last season, he was just one of the many players with potential in the youth ranks across Spina.
However, all that changed this season as Barroso began wreaking havoc on the opposition’s defences in the youth leagues in his debut season for Madrid. He has been so impressive that he has played across several youth teams in the last six months, which shows his high ceiling.
This included 16 appearances for the club’s under-16 team, two for the under-19 team, four for the Seleccion de futbol de Madrid, and one for Spain’s under-16 national team.
Jaime Barroso stats
Barroso has been the most devastating for Real Madrid’s under-16 team. His current tally is 24 goals from 16 matches, an outstanding record. At the same time, he has also played for Real Madrid Juvenil scoring one goal in two games.
He was also selected for the Madrid community team which only plays friendly matches. He would find the back of the net four times in three games. These performances were not going unnoticed and caught the eyes of Jose Lana, the coach of Spain’s under-16 team.
He was soon given a call-up to the team and played his first match against Austria. Barroso repaid the faith put into him by scoring in his debut with a brilliant finish.
Goal by Jaime Barroso for Spain U-16 against Austria. pic.twitter.com/H9WXptGsgu
— Real Madrid Fabrica (@FabricaMadrid) February 23, 2023
Jaime Barroso positioning and style of play
At the youth levels, a player is rarely afforded the luxury of being played in the same position as the team is rotated to identify a player’s strengths and weaknesses. However, Barroso is being played as a number nine due to the high-level performance that he has shown.
Still far from a finished product, Barroso has shown glimpses of being an elite marksman by making well-timed runs and beating the opposition’s offside traps. He is also adept at holding onto the ball, allowing his teammates to get into gaps left by the opposition, receive the ball, and try to score.
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Jaime Barroso transfer news
In his first season, Barroso has caught the interest of teams across Spain. And as is the case with every young player, there will be clubs that will be looking to add him to their ranks. However, the only way he leaves Real Madrid is if he has a contractual dispute with them if the club doesn’t think he has the potential to play in the senior team.
However, if he manages to fulfil his potential, he is going nowhere, as only a handful of clubs can match Real Madrid’s aura. For now, though, Barrosso is far from that and just needs to continue his development and hopes he becomes another success story of Real Madrid’s new strategy.