Report: The reason why Koeman doesn’t count on Riqui Puig

According to a report published by Spanish newspaper El Pais, the reason for Ronald Koeman not trusting Riqui Puig has been revealed, which has been said to be that Puig leaked information to the press earlier in pre-season.

The report states that Koeman had informed Riqui Puig and Ansu Fati to look for a new team that summer for more game time than what was possible at the Camp Nou as part of the senior team. However, when Puig was not included in the Gamper Trophy squad, this information was leaked to the press, and reported worldwide.

Koeman did not take kindly to this news, and berated Puig in the dressing room in front of everybody calling him a ‘leaker’.

This is not he first time that news from Koeman’s dressing room has spread to the media. The telephone call to Luis Suarez, or the exclusion of Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic, too, was leaked sooner than later.

That said, if true, leaking information is not an enough reason for constantly benching a player the team is calling out for. If Puig does indeed have attitude issues, they will come to the forefront soon enough, but before that, it is clear that he needs, and indeed deserves more game time.