Out of favour Barcelona youngster considers leaving the club on loan

It has been a difficult season for Riqui Puig as he has yet again been stuck on the Barcelona bench, while younger players like Pedri, Gavi and Nico Gonzalez make rapid strides in their careers.

The 22-year-old was once regarded as the crown jewel of La Masia but has been unable to make the transition from youth football to senior football as expected. Handed his debut by Ernesto Valverde in 2018, the midfielder was never a regular under the Spaniard.

Puig did receive some minutes under Quique Setien, but it was back to the usual under Ronald Koeman. It was anticipated that Xavi’s appointment could turn things around for him, but that has not been the case.

The highly-rated midfielder has made 12 appearances across all competitions for Barça this term. He was last seen in action in the Copa del Rey clash against Linares in early January. Since then, the Blaugrana have played nine matches in all competitions, but he has not featured even once.

It is an indicator of where he stands within the plans of the manager currently. And, a report from La Vanguardia claims that after having been resistant to leaving the club on loan in the past, the Spaniard is now willing to move away on a temporary spell for the next season.

It is further stated that Puig’s agents have nudged him towards securing a loan move as he has not played as regularly as they would have thought this season.

Puig has had several loan offers in the past, but he was always reluctant. The 22-year-old had seen the likes of Sergi Samper, Carles Alena, Marc Cucurella leave on temporary spells to never return to play first-team football for Barça and did not wish to go down the same path.

But with his situation not improving, the La Masia graduate seems to have decided to test himself outside the Catalan club next season.

“In La Masia, Riqui Puig was valued for his work with the ball. However, professional football has different defensive and attacking aspects that he is not differential on. Maybe it’s because of the lack of confidence and minutes,” one of the coaches at the academy told La Vanguardia.

A loan stint away from Barcelona, to a club where he can play regularly, may help the young midfielder gain minutes and build that confidence he has been lacking.