Riqui Puig’s Barcelona exit was—perhaps unsurprisingly given the chaotic summer at the club—not exactly painless.
Puig came up through La Masia, Barca’s vaunted youth set-up, but completed a surprise move to the LA Galaxy during the summer transfer window.
Speaking to AS from his new home stadium, Puig said Barca effectively chased him out of the club as part of a panicked series of moves designed to register their new signings for the 2022-23 La Liga season despite massive debts.
“It was a tough month because I had never seen that before, leaving players behind in Barcelona and going on a tour without them,” said Puig, who was stuck training with a handful of teammates in Barcelona while the club went on a preseason tour of the country he would end up moving to.
Puig said that while he wasn’t necessarily surprised that Barca’s financial bind forced them to move some players along, the method was not one he looks kindly on.
“Perhaps I understand the club’s position, they want to put pressure on players to leave, but there are other ways to do it,” explained Puig. “It was really difficult being in Barcelona, training alone, with four other teammates who were also there with me.”
The latest player to find themselves on the wrong end of the club’s methodology is U.S. men’s national team defender Sergiño Dest. Initially told he would be part of the club’s plans for the season, Dest has instead found himself frozen out, with Xavi indicating that the club wants him to leave so they can continue their endless spending.
Puig spent seven years with Barca, but said that being left home while the club went on a tour was a painful experience.
“After seven years at the club, being in Barcelona when all my teammates are in Los Angeles playing matches…well, the truth is that it hurt me a lot,” said Puig. “It’s a difficult situation and sometimes you have to make decisions and they have made this decision but I don’t agree with it.”
In the meantime, Puig has made his Galaxy debut over the weekend, subbing into a 3-3 draw with the Seattle Sounders.
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