I´m not going to give in – Puig determined to become a Barcelona regular

Riqui Puig is refusing to give up on his dream of making it as a Barcelona regular – even if it means spending another season with the reserves.

The 19-year-old has started two of Barca’s last five LaLiga matches, profiting from Ernesto Valverde’s decision to rotate his squad over the past month as he seeks to secure the treble.

Puig was unable to prevent his side from falling to a 2-0 loss when given the full 90 minutes in Saturday’s meeting with Celta Vigo, a week on from Barca wrapping up the title with a few games to spare.

But despite his limited playing time at senior level in 2018-19, the teenage midfielder – a regular for the Barcelona B side – is determined to make a name for himself at Camp Nou. 

Debutant and Captain pic.twitter.com/fxSqpd4fzh

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 13, 2019

“I would like to be in the first team but I don’t decide that, the club does,” he said in an interview with YouTuber Koko DC. “If I have to be in Barcelona B for another season, in the Segunda B, it wouldn’t matter. 

“I’m not going to give in. As my father says, it’s cold outside of Barca and you cannot leave if they don’t kick you out.”

Among the sides reportedly monitoring the youngster’s situation are Manchester City, managed by former Barca boss Pep Guardiola.

FC Barcelona 98/99 Jersey
Connecting past, present, and future @nikefootball pic.twitter.com/EfGtCeeldA

— Riqui Puig (@RiquiPuig) April 10, 2019

Puig has played down a move to the Etihad Stadium, however, joking that he would struggle to cope with the English weather.

“If I have to go to Manchester, it will be raining every day. Here the sun comes out every day,” he said. “I think my team-mates did not see a future, they had to leave. Some of them did very well.

“They told me I have a peculiar style of play. I could play for another team, but the characteristic I have will make me better at Barcelona. So I will continue here; a 15-year career in Barcelona.”