Given Riqui Puig’s struggles at Barcelona so far this season, several clubs were linked with the youngster towards the end of January.
One of those was Leeds United, with several articles stating the 21-year-old was of interest to Marcelo Bielsa’s side. It was also reported Puig’s representatives had offered the player to the Premier League club, and that they hadn’t provided an answer regarding their intentions.
Puig has only been given three minutes in La Liga so far this season, which gives a good idea of how important Ronald Koeman thinks he is. However, he was given 24 minutes against Juventus in a 3-0 Champions league defeat last week.
Somehow, the Catalan media are insistent he showed enough during that brief period to justify a big role against Levante at the weekend. In the end, he didn’t get off the bench.
Sport report ‘it’s difficult to understand’ the player’s situation, and then add: ‘In any other team, the Fútbol Club Barcelona midfielder would have been the protagonist in yesterday’s game after his good minutes against Juventus.’
That feels like a stretch, and Puig may not get such strong backing if he weren’t Catalan, but it’s clear frustration and doubts over his future are picking up again.
This all provides a chance for Leeds United and others to try their luck for the central midfielder in January, presumably on a loan deal. With his agent having already made contact, it’s possible Victor Orta’s telephone will ring again.
