Serie A giants AS Roma have reportedly set their sights on Riqui Puig and are ready to offer him an escape route out of Barcelona in January.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Riqui Puig is the subject of interest from AS Roma over a move in the January transfer window. However, the out of favour Spanish midfielder is waiting to see what the future holds for Ronald Koeman before deciding whether he calls it quits at Barcelona.
Riqui Puig has been with Barcelona since 2013, having joined their youth setup from UFC Jabac Terrassa. The 22-year-old broke into the first-team squad in December 2018 and has since made gradual progress at Camp Nou, and has stuttered a great deal since Ronald Koeman took charge last year.
After barely featuring from the off in 2020/21, the youngster’s struggles have continued at the onset of the new campaign, made just four appearances while accumulating only 72 minutes of action in the process. With his career headed nowhere under Koeman, it would be a prudent move for him to call it quits at Barcelona, with AS Roma now emerging in his pursuit.
The interest from Roma makes sense, even though Jose Mourinho has a number of midfielders at his disposal. However, Gonzalo Villar is facing an uncertain future at Stadio Olimpico, with Everton among the clubs hoping to swoop him away from the Serie A outfit.
So, Puig is a viable target for Roma, with the 22-year-old Barcelona outcast potentially being a like-for-like replacement for Villar. However, the Serie A giants are not the only club in pursuit of Puig, who is also being courted by Celta Vigo, Getafe and Real Sociedad.
The youngster, though, is not going to take a call on leaving Barcelona immediately, even though AS Roma want to sign him in the January transfer window. Instead, Puig is waiting to see what the future holds for Ronald Koeman, who is under increasing pressure at Camp Nou.
Puig believes that he will have a bright future at Barcelona if Koeman gets the boot and is therefore, playing the waiting game before taking a call on his future. For now, a whole host of clubs are hot on the trails of the Barcelona outcast and it will be interesting to see if he departs Camp Nou in the summer.
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