Pablo Barrera

Pablo Edson Barrera Acosta (born 21 June 1987) is a Mexican footballer who plays as a winger or outside forward for Liga MX club Monterrey. He spent the early part of his career playing for Club Universidad Nacional in Mexico, before transferring to Premier League club West Ham United. He has also spent a loan period with La Liga club Real Zaragoza. He has represented the Mexico national team.

Club career

Club Universidad Nacional

Born in Tlalnepantla, Mexico, Barrera began his career as a midfielder for Mexico City-based club Universidad Nacional, also known as Pumas. He joined Pumas youth system at the age of 11 and worked his way through the ranks to make his debut in the Primera División in 2005. He was involved in all the plays in Pumas' 8–0 victory over Veracruz.

In July 2008, Barrera had surgery to repair a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee that would sideline him for six months.

In early January, Barrera came back from his injury and in his very first game back he scored a goal against Necaxa. He was a starter until manager Ricardo Ferreti put him on the bench. He scored another goal that same season against Puebla. He would help Pumas reach the final in which they faced Pachuca and scored the winning goal that gave Pumas the win in the second half of overtime. Barrera enjoyed his finest season in the Torneo Bicentenario 2010 scoring six goals in 13 games, though his season was cut short as he was called up to the Mexico national football team pre-World Cup training camp.