Barcelona midfielder signs with new agency, which also represents Xavi

According to COPE (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig has signed with the agency of Arturo Canales, who also happens to represent Gerard Pique and incoming manager, Xavi Hernandez.

Puig, who was not signed with an agent to date, is a product of Barca’s famed La Masia academy. The midfielder was once billed the future of the Catalan club but things have not gone according to plans for him as his development has been somewhat derailed over the past eighteen months or so.

A lack of regular playing time, particularly under Ronald Koeman, who pretty much froze him out of the first-team picture at Camp Nou, has hurt Puig’s progress while leading to speculations over his future at the club as well.

In fact, Puig was offered a way out during the summer, but the 22-year-old decided to stay put and fight for his chance at Barcelona, although he has managed just 92 minutes of senior football so far in the 2021/22 campaign.

There had been speculations that Puig could look to move in January in case there is no change in his situation. But with Koeman not at the helm anymore, there is a genuine chance that the young midfielder will be offered a fair opportunity to stake a claim for regular involvement at Camp Nou.

Even then, the off-field move to sign with a representative comes as an intriguing one. As per the report, Puig has signed up with the agency of Arturo Canales, who has worked with Barca defender Gerard Pique for a number of years now, and interestingly, represents Xavi as well.

The 41-year-old Barcelona legend is closing in a return to the club as the next manager, with Canales involved in the process heavily as he helps negotiate the ex-midfielder’s release from current club Al Sadd.

Apart from Xavi and Pique, Canales’ agency also happens to represent out-of-favour Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti as well, with Puig becoming the latest Blaugrana star to associate with them.