Former Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig recalled his difficult times with the team and said he left very disappointed.
“It was a big disappointment for me, Barcelona and Xavi. My last month with the team was very difficult. A player was left out of the pre-season training camp… I’ve never seen that before.” said the For FOX Deportes Midfielder who left for Los Angeles Galaxy over the summer.
Puig was also left out of pre-season as Barcelona coach Xavi asked him to find a new team.
“I was in Barcelona with two other teammates, they wanted to be sent off, while the others were playing. It hurts me a lot,” said the 23-year-old midfielder.
The Spanish youth national team player had many favorites from La Liga, but decided to look for a challenge elsewhere and headed to the United States. By the time the transfer was finalized, he had only a year left on his Barcelona contract, and the Los Angeles Galaxy signed the midfielder for free. However, his former club signed a €10m buy-back option with the Galaxy, and they also agreed that 50 percent of the proceeds from all future sales of the player would belong to Barcelona.
“I owe a debt of gratitude to Barcelona, thanks to them I became the player I am today. My last spell with the team didn’t go the way I wanted it to. They didn’t treat me the way I wanted to.” – he added Puig.
¿Se sintió Riqui Puig disappointed by Xavi and Del Barcelona’s decision?@tweet pic.twitter.com/k1UNzQ2IPw
Rodolfo Landeros. August 22, 2022
Puig signed a contract with the Barcelona Under-16 team in the summer of 2014, and progressed step by step, making 57 first-team appearances, scoring two goals and providing three assists.