Midfielder Riqui Puig disappears from Barcelona coach Xavi's plans

Xavi Hernandez's arrival as Barcelona coach came with many questions that only time could solve. One of them was the role Riqui Puig would have. Until Xavi's arrival, the midfielder had not earned the confidence of his previous coaches. Unfortunately for the academy graduate, it's been the same under Xavi.

In his first games as Barça coach, Xavi used Puig off the bench, although rarely from the start. It was the first game of 2022, at Mallorca, when the youngster first played 90 minutes. In the next game, against Linares in the Copa del Rey, he started again, but he didn't play well and was taken off at half-time. That was the last time he played for Barça.

Since the game against Linares, Barça have played against Granada and Alaves in LaLiga, Real Madrid in the Supercopa and Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey. Riqui has not featured in any of them. And that despite Gavi being suspended at the weekend and Pedri not being fit for one of those games.

Riqui Puig's chance of minutes this season looks complicated. Ahead of him he has Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Gavi and Nico Gonzalez. Even B team midfielder Alvaro Sanz came on before him at Granada. Despite that, he's still keen to leave the club for minutes elsewhere and lives in hope that Xavi will give him another chance.