This is probably the most unlikely transfer of last summer. Discovered at FC Barcelona in 2019, the new nugget Riqui Puig had surprised everyone at Camp Nou and had everything to become a future holder in the Blaugrana midfielder. But with the arrival of Ronald Koeman and then Xavi Hernandez on the Catalan bench, the 23-year-old seemed less convincing in training and was almost out of the squad, to the point of becoming an undesirable this summer.
Impressive statistics
Barred by stiff competition in Catalonia, it was no wonder to see Riqui Puig bounce back elsewhere in Europe. Except that the Spaniard surprised everyone by deciding to continue his career at Los Angeles Galaxy, the Major League Soccer franchise, where he signed up for three and a half years last August. After only seven matches played in the North American championship, the native of Matadepera (Catalonia) has already made everyone agree.
While the LA Galaxy are struggling in the race for the MLS play-offs, the 23-year-old midfielder’s technique is doing the West Coast club a lot of good (92% successful passes in 564 minutes played). In seven games, he was immediately decisive with two goals, two assists, and was involved in seven goals. Recently, he was sparkling in the victory against the Colorado Rapids (4-1). A decisive meeting for the rest of the championship.
Riqui Puig didn’t like his departure from Barcelona
While he was involved in three goals, his performance earned him selection in Major League Soccer’s Team of the Week, which teammate Gastón Brugman also features in. Before the last three games of the regular season, this performance allowed the Los Angeles franchise to move up to 7th place and to see a qualifying place for the play-offs. A nice revenge for the one who did not appreciate his treatment in his training club, who still retained 50% of the rights on a future sale and added a clause which would allow him to facilitate a return.
“It was a very tough month. I had never seen that, leaving players in Barcelona and not taking them on the tour. I can understand the club’s situation, that they wanted to put pressure on players to leave, but things can be done differently. It was tough staying in Barcelona, training with four teammates. (…) Disappointment? Yes, totally, especially after spending 7 years at the club. Sometimes you have to make decisions, they made that decision. I don’t share it, but that’s how it is”explained the Spaniard to Fox Sports, before discovering the MLS. It remains to be seen what turn of his career will take.
