In a recent tweet, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has mentioned that Barcelona are prepared to extend Riqui Puig’s contract until the summer of 2023. It is understood that the Catalan giants have no plans to sanction a loan move for the Spanish whizkid in January and would rather ensure his long-term future at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona – at the moment – are not planning to loan out Riqui Puig in January. And his contract will be extended until June 2023 with clause set to be triggered. He’s not leaving as a free agent in Barça plans. 🇪🇸 #FCB #Barça @MatteMoretto
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 30, 2020
Puig’s Mounting Struggles At Catalonia This Season
The 21-year-old has struggled to catch the eye with his performances as he has found first-team opportunities hard to come by under Ronald Koeman’s stewardship so far this season. He has been involved in just five matches for Barca this term, receiving a total of 73 minutes of game time across various competitions.
Even though he has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter during this campaign, he deserves credit for averaging 1.0 shots, 1.7 key passes and 1.0 dribbles per game in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League. He has even been careful when distributing possession from midfield as evidenced by his pass success rate of 89.4% in European football (stats via whoscored).
Puig needs to secure more first-team opportunities if he intends to improve his overall game in the coming seasons. However, unless Koeman gives him some assurances over more game time in the remainder of this campaign, it doesn’t make sense for the player to stay at the club. Even if he pens a new deal, Puig should consider going out on loan in search of more playing minutes during the winter transfer window.
What Are The Spanish Youngster’s Best Attributes?
Puig is an excellent passer of the ball and can also make some promising runs with the ball from midfield. He is a technically gifted footballer who can be a difficult man to stop when he is running at full swing in the opposition half.
The Spanish prospect hardly gives away the ball and has also got the vision to play a decisive pass in the offensive end of the field. However, he is still quite raw and would require more time to develop himself into a top midfielder capable of playing in La Liga week in week out.
Barcelona Ready To Extend Puig’s Contract: Good Move For Everyone Involved?
Barca would be wise to extend Puig’s deal as he has the potential to become a future star at the Nou Camp. The Spanish sensation can also benefit from committing his long-term future to the Catalan club as it will allow him to concentrate on getting better on the field.
However, Puig should focus on getting a loan move out of Barcelona in January if he wants to get more playing minutes under his belt in the remainder of this season. With all things considered, extending Puig’s contract until 2023 seems like a good move for both the player and the club as they look to get their season back on track in 2021.
