I trained with Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham was a teammate and now I'm hurting Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham

Today at 10:07 AM

Louie Barry has had one of the most unique career paths in football.

At just 20 years old, the forward has already played for seven clubs throughout the English football pyramid as well as Spanish giants Barcelona.

Yes, you read that right.

Before spells at Ipswich Town, Swindon Town, MK Dons and now Stockport County, Barry was part of Barca's iconic La Masia academy. 

The former England youth international is starring for Stockport this season, netting 11 goals and providing one assist so far, making him League One's top scorer. 

He is considered by many as the best player in the third-tier and he backed those statements up with a stunner in a 1-0 win against Wrexham on Saturday. 

Barry looks an incredible talent and is finally being able to show his talent after learning his trade in Spain. 

Aged just 16, he was extremely highly-rated, so much so, that Barcelona signed him from West Brom to join La Masia. 

The infamous academy has produced players such as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Pep Guardiola over the years. 

So to be part of that set-up would have been a real privilege, as Barry explained when looked back on his time there. 

“We trained near the first-team pitch, and I could go and watch them [the first team] every time," he told Sky Sports.

"It was a mad experience, and a lot of my teammates from there are with the first team now or have gone on to play there.

“Gavi was two years younger but I was in the group with him every day. I was also with the likes of Ansu Fati, Alejandro Balde, Nico Gonzalez and Arnau Tenas. 

“To train with that level of player really helped me develop. Even now a few years later I don’t think it has really sunk in that I was in that situation.”

At the time, Barcelona boasted an incredible squad that included Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann and of course, Messi.

Barry was not only able to watch some of the world's best players but he was also able to play alongside them, albeit only in a small session.

"Messi and Suarez were there [when I was], yeah," Barry added. "I trained once with them, but it was a very low standard.

"It was a set-piece kind of thing. I got called up from the B team. But 'I've trained with Messi', I can say that.

"I have got a few photos with them – Suarez, Messi, on my phone.

“Obviously you have to stay professional when you're in a work mode, but when they are away from it and I'm there looking, they were really good."

Unfortunately, Barry's time at Barcelona didn’t last long after it was reported that his promised playing time at the club was not given. 

So in 2020, he returned to England and joined Aston Villa for a deal rising to £3.5million.

He made a perfect start back in the West Midlands, with his debut coming in the FA Cup against Liverpool following a few months in the youth set-up. 

Villa were forced to play their youth team in the clash due to a coronavirus outbreak that ruled out their entire first-team squad.

It meant they had to field a side with an average age of 18 years and 294 days and none of the line-up had yet made their first appearance for the club. 

Barry made the most of his chance, though, netting a fine goal at the end of the first half to send Villa in level at 1-1 before they went on to lose 4-1.

His performance caught the eye of many, including Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp who likened him to a Premier League great when speaking after the game.

"The boys did really well. Little Jamie Vardy was a proper threat," the Reds boss exclusively told talkSPORT.

"The boys did really well, the kids of Aston Villa did really well, were organised and all that stuff. It was clear."

Leicester City legend Vardy didn't play for Barcelona of course, but his career in the lower leagues of England is somewhat similar to Barry's current journey. 

The now 37-year-old played for Stocksbridge Park Steels, Halifax Town and Fleetwood Town before making his first appearance in the Premier League. 

Barry will eventually hope to be in the top flight too and he has since spoken about Vardy, comparing his play style to the striker.

“I actually think I’m a bit more like Vardy," he admitted to Sky Sports. "I play in a similar way to him, with his movement, being a bit of a nuisance. 

"That’s what I built my game around when I was younger. He had an underdog story that I really like.”

The 'nuisance' Barry was talking about was clear to see at the weekend when he raced, just like Vardy, to retain possession on the edge of the box.

His finish was something the Leicester man wouldn't be able to pull off though, as he took one touch, turned and fired into the top corner. 

That goal led Stockport to a huge win over Wrexham and there wasn't much that Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side could do to stop him. 

Stockport are in the promotion hunt along with Wrexham in what is shaping up to be a close race to the Championship.

Barry would have impressed Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer who was in the stands at the game watching the action.

Palmer and Barry both played for the Three Lions’ U17s and that is where the forward also featured alongside some now superstars.

He won the Syrenka Cup in Poland in 2019, an U17 tournament that also featured Harvey Elliot, Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala, the latter two of which are both thriving in Europe at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Barry didn’t have that same success on the continent, but he seems to have found his form back in England.

He scored nine goals as Stockport got promoted from League Two last campaign and he's already surpassed that tally this year.

His form will be delighting Aston Villa as he remains their player and he looks like he could end up being a major asset for Unai Emery in the future. 

There's no doubt Barry has the talent, and spending time training with Messi and playing with Bellingham will certainly have made an impact.