EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

Riqui Puig will stay at Barcelona next season despite getting transfer offers

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According to a report by Sport, Riqui Puig has received offers from three different clubs but the midfielder has been denied the chance to leave. The youngster has failed to impress Ronald Koeman last season and was left on the bench for most of the matches. Following this Koeman advised Puig to go on a loan to get some more game time. However, the midfielder chose to stay despite not getting any game time as he has decided to prove his talent to the Barcelona manager this season.

The 21-year-old has been an exceptional talent in the La Masia academy following which he got the chance to show his talent in the first team. And the youngster has gone to appear 39 times for the Catalans in all competitions. However, despite his good performance he has failed to be a regular starter in the team due to a heavy crowd in the midfield area.

As Puig was mostly seen warming the Barcelona bench Koeman advised the youngster to leave on loan in the January transfer window. But Puig decided to stay despite Koeman’s loan advice as his heart beats for Barcelona. While as per the latest reports Granada, Celta de Vigo and Ajax have offered to sign the youngster this summer. But the 21-year-old has turned down all the offers that would have got him a regular start in the next season.

However, turning down the offers have not been a bad decision for Puig as Koeman has talked about including the youngster in his plans next season. While Barcelona president Joan Laporta has also talked with Koeman to use the emerging talent of Puig in the next season. So, we might see the 21-year-old in the pitch more than on the bench next season.

Puig to shine next season because of the absence of Pedri in the team

FC Barcelona have a number of great options for their midfield with Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Sergio Busquets being the first choice. While Riqui Puig and Ilaix Moriba are the second-choice midfielders for Ronald Koeman.

But, Koeman will not have his first-choice Pedri in the pre-season and in the first couple of games at the start of the season. As the Euro 2020 Young Player of the Tournament will be in Tokyo for participating in the Olympics. Barcelona board tried hard to not let Pedri fly for Tokyo, as the player is having a busy schedule since the 2020/21 season.

The 18-year-old played almost every match for Barcelona this season, while he also played every match for Spain in the Euro campaign. And now he will be playing in the Olympics for Spain. This hectic schedule has been a worrying subject for Barcelona as Pedri will not get enough rest before joining the Catalans next season.

But, Barcelona’s plea for not letting Pedri leave for Tokyo has been rejected by the Spain board. Following this situation, Koeman has to play Riqui Puig for the first couple of games at the start of the season. And this is a golden opportunity for Puig to show his top-notch talent in order to be a regular starter for Barcelona next season. So, let’s wait and see if the youngster can make the most of his chances in the next season.

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