Riqui Puig is refusing to give up on his dream of making it as a Barcelona regular – even if it means spending another season with the reserves.
The 19-year-old has started two of Barca s last five LaLiga matches, profiting from Ernesto Valverde s decision to rotate his squad over the past month as he seeks to secure the treble.
Puig was unable to prevent his side from falling to a 2-0 loss when given the full 90 minutes in Saturday s meeting with Celta Vigo, a week on from Barca wrapping up the title with a few games to spare.
But despite his limited playing time at senior level in 2018-19, the teenage midfielder – a regular for the Barcelona B side – is determined to make a name for himself at Camp Nou.
Debutant and Captain
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
I would like to be in the first team but I don t decide that, the club does, he said in an interview with YouTuber Koko DC. If I have to be in Barcelona B for another season, in the Segunda B, it wouldn t matter.
I m not going to give in. As my father says, it s cold outside of Barca and you cannot leave if they don t kick you out.
Among the sides reportedly monitoring the youngster s situation are Manchester City, managed by former Barca boss Pep Guardiola.
FC Barcelona 98/99 Jersey
Connecting past, present, and future
— Riqui Puig (@RiquiPuig)
Puig has played down a move to the Etihad Stadium, however, joking that he would struggle to cope with the English weather.
If I have to go to Manchester, it will be raining every day. Here the sun comes out every day, he said. I think my team-mates did not see a future, they had to leave. Some of them did very well.
They told me I have a peculiar style of play. I could play for another team, but the characteristic I have will make me better at Barcelona. So I will continue here; a 15-year career in Barcelona.
