"Barry curled in a beautiful opener to propel the Hatters on the way to a 2-0 League One play-off semi-final second-leg win over Stevenage on Wednesday. "I've scored important goals before in the league but I've never scored in the play-offs, it means a lot to me," the 22-year-old added to Sky Sports. It is one of the high points of the rollercoaster career of a man described as "one of the best young players in English football" seven years ago."
"The then 16-year-old had just got the move every young player dreams of, joining Spanish giants Barcelona. But while that dream ended and he is not firing in goals at the Nou Camp, he is preparing for a second trip to Wembley Stadium this season. Barry, in his third loan spell with Stockport, featured in their Vertu Trophy final loss to Luton Town at Wembley a month ago and will be back at the home of English football next weekend after the 3-0 aggregate win over Stevenage."
"Barry was West Bromwich Albion academy's star turn as a youngster but when Barcelona came calling he could not turn down the chance to train at La Masia - the academy that has groomed Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal and Andres Iniesta. However, after just 10 youth-team appearances, Barry was back in the Midlands as Aston Villa paid a 1m Euro fee (about 880,000 at the time) to bring him home. "It sends a powerful message about the ambition of this football club," said Villa academy manager Mark Harrison at the time."
Louie Barry scored a curled opener to help Stockport County win 2-0 in the League One play-off semi-final second leg against Stevenage, securing a 3-0 aggregate victory and a Wembley return. The 22-year-old said he had scored important league goals before but had never scored in the play-offs, making the moment especially meaningful. Barry previously joined Barcelona as a 16-year-old after being a standout in the West Bromwich Albion academy, training at La Masia. After limited youth-team appearances, he returned to the Midlands when Aston Villa paid a fee to sign him. His career has since included multiple loan spells, including a Wembley appearance in a Vertu Trophy final loss to Luton Town.
Read at www.bbc.com
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