Xavi keeps Rique Puig in an infinite limbo at Barça

Riqui Puig outlined like one of the players of the quarry that could cause an important impact in the medullary Barcelona. However, the happen of the years has played him against and every time is lower his participation with the first team. The arrival of Xavi Hernández boasted as 'oxygen' for the midfield player, but to day of today, is with the trainer that less has played.

Ernesto Valverde was the one who did him debut in the season 2018/19, but his summary was not elder to three official parties, in where it accumulated 192 minutes with an assistance. In two of his three commitments split like titling, but did not cause greater developing impact of the game. Already in the 2019/20, 'Txingurri' did not explain more with him until the day of his dismissal.

Already with Quique Setién in the bench, the opportunities went back to appear for the one of Matadepalo, but only in League, since in Champions was relegado to the bank of acting. In his debut like technician, plant him 19 minutes in front of the Granada, and seemed that this time if it would be his year. Nevertheless, it would go back to remain in the ostracism, although it would be the second period where more minutes would have. It was in almost the half of the meetings that directed Setién, adding 578 minutes and in 12 parties.

With Ronald Koeman the history improved, but did not finish to fit in the ideology of game of the Dutch. It was precisely he the one who him fichó with the first team, and gave him hopes at the beginning to follow trying it with the elastic blaugrana. In spite of this, his presences were irrelevant and in a lot of occasions went in in the last compasses of the party. It marked his only goal with the first team under his orders, in where it participated in 28 appointments for a total of 743 minutes.

The 'dilemma' with Xavi

By the characteristics that offers the egarense, expected that at last it would arrive the opportunity 'of gold' so that Riqui will show that it can be notable in the centre of the field. In spite of this, follows playing very little, included in lower proportion that his previous místeres. For the moment, it has played 35% of the parties that accumulates the one of Terrassa, contesting 300 minutes in 7 parties.

In front of the Mallorca was the 90' in the field and has been his only titularity. From that then, on 2 January 2022, has not gone back to step the terrains of games in LaLiga. His other performances divide in 17' in front of the Bayern Munich by Champions, 8' of Europe League in front of the Napoli, 45' in Glass of the King against the Linares, and 170' delivered in four split suspender belts.

Added to this, the strong competition that there is in the midfield with the irruption of Gavi and Nico, more the indisputable Pedri and Of Jong, make impossible his continuity. Already Koeman in the past recommended to yield him, although his posture kept firm in following inside the changing room culé. The end of season is far, but Riqui could be one of the candidates to abandon the club in search of minutes.