Aleña and Riqui Puig will both be in Barça's first team next season

Aleña and Riqui Puig will both be in Barça's first team next season

Los dos jugadores en un entrenamiento del primer equipo
Los dos jugadores en un entrenamiento del primer equipo | sport

The club's decision is for the two young midfielders to be given an extended chance

Carles Aleña and Riqui Puig will be part of the Barcelona first team next season. The decision has been taken. Only the arrival of a huge offer for one of them will change the club's mind. 

Barça feel both young midfielders are ready to contribute much more than they have done so far and will look to move on older players and replace them with youth. Aleña and Puig will be in Quique Setien's squad and will have a shirt number. It is now up to them to fight for their place.  

The Catalan club have always had academy graduates at the heart of the team, especially in recent decades with the likes of Guardiola, Amor, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta and Messi going on to captain the club.

In the current squad, Piqué, Busquets and Messi have only been joined by Sergi Roberto (28) in recent years, but now Aleña and Puig, along with Ansu Fati, of course, will get their chance.

Aleña, 22, started the current season in the first team but joined Real Betis on loan in January. His decision was made before Setien replaced Ernesto Valverde. 

Puig, 20, is still playing for Barça B but in his second season of training almost daily with the first team. 

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