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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 the Camp Nou and had all the credentials to become a future holder of the blaugrana midfielder. But with the arrival of Ronald Koeman and then of Xavi Hernandez on the Catalan bench, the 23-year-old looked less convincing in training and was almost off the team, to the point of becoming an undesirable this summer.
Impressive statistics
Barring stiff competition in Catalonia, it wasn’t surprising 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 for three and a half years last August. After only seven games played in the North American league, the native of Matadepera (Catalonia) has already made everyone agree.
With the LA Galaxy struggling in the run-up to the MLS playoffs, the 23-year-old midfielder’s technique is doing very well at the West Coast club (92% successful passes played in 564 minutes). In seven games he was immediately decisive with two goals, two assists, and was involved in seven goals. Recently, he shone in victory over the Colorado Rapids (4-1). A decisive match for the rest of the championship.
Riqui Puig did not like his departure from Barcelona
While he was involved in three goals, his performance earned him selection in the Major League Soccer Team of the Week, which also featured teammate Gastón Brugman. Before the last three games of the regular season, this performance allowed the Los Angeles franchise to move up to 7th place and see a qualifying spot for the play-offs. A nice revenge for those who did not appreciate the treatment reserved for his training company, which still kept 50% of the rights on a future sale and added a clause that would have allowed him to facilitate the return.
“It has been a very difficult month. I had never seen it, leaving the players in Barcelona and not taking them on tour. I can understand the situation of the club, they wanted to put pressure on the players to leave, but things can be done differently. It was hard to stay at 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 agree with it, but that’s the way it is “the Spanish explained to Fox Sport, before discovering the MLS. It remains to be seen what the turning point in his career will be.
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