Ex-Barcelona wonderkid hits out at Xavi and opens up on brutal private talks
LA Galaxy star Riqui Puig has opened up on his Barcelona exit and detailed the role of former boss Xavi Hernandez in his departure for MLS.
The former Blaugrana wonderkid was tipped for a long career at Camp Nou but departed in the summer of 2022 after being deemed surplus to requirements by his boyhood club. The attacking midfielder came through the club's famous La Masia academy and played 60 times for the La Liga giants before his surprising move stateside.
Undoubtedly, the signing of the 23-year-old starlet represented something of a coup for the US outfit, especially after he featured 18 times across all competitions in his last campaign in Catalonia. However, the diminutive ace has now described how his decision to depart the club he had represented since the age of 14 came about and the role Barca's manager had to play in his switch to MLS.
In an interview with Spanish outlet , the former Spain U-21s international revealed that Xavi was open with him that he did not see a future for him at Camp Nou, in spite of conversations that the player had held with the club's president previously. Although Joan Laporta had hinted that Barcelona were eager to retain his services, Puig claims that the head coach held a contrary view, saying "I had a sit down with Xavi last summer. He told me he was not counting on me.
"With the president (Joan Laporta) maybe it was different, he was always telling me I was a player for the future and that he wanted me to stay. But I was not going to stay in a place where the manager does not want you."
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In explosive terms, the LA Galaxy talisman also hit out at the club for how he was then treated during pre-season after it became apparent that his days would be numbered in Catalonia. He said: "I believe I was not treated fairly when I came back to training in pre-season last summer, when the club did not let me train with them. I think that if I still have a contract with the club, I should be able to act like that and they can’t tell me not to train with them."
The way his departure transpired did come as something of a surprise to Puig, who also stated that he felt a little bit let down by his former manager due to the previous strength of their relationship. He added: "Xavi called me and my family two times in the past to try to convince us into moving to Qatar when he was there.
Xavi Hernandez head coach of Barcelona gives instructions during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 20, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)"There was a close relationship between his parents and my family, we are both from the same city in Catalonia, Terrassa. To be honest, that’s what hurts me the most as a footballer but also as a friend that we believed we were with Xavi’s family.
"In the end I couldn’t succeed in Barcelona, it can happen and it was my turn to look for other options in football. But the fact of not being allowed to train with the team during the first weeks of preseason angered me a lot."
The midfielder has revitalized his career in the US after his departure from the club where he first made his name, contributing seven goals in 36 appearances for the Galaxy so far. His team has struggled so far this term and they currently sit n second from bottom of the MLS Western Conference.
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