5 teenagers to look out for in the Barcelona International Champions Cup squad

#4 Riqui Puig

Riqui Puig on the left

Riqui Puig was born on the 13th of August 1999 in Matadepera, Catalonia and started to his football journey in the famed La Masia Academy. The young Catalonian is one of the brightest prospects from Catalonia to come out of La Masia in recent times and is expected to be the next player in line from the academy to wear the famous jersey since Sergi Roberto.

The Barcelona DNA running through and through, the young Catalonian started the Blaugrana journey at the age of 14, from UFB Jabac Terrassa, moving up through the ranks of the Academy and making into the Barca Juvenil B team in the 2015/16 season moving onto the Barca Juvenil A team two years later in the 2017/18 season.

The 2017/18 season proved to the breakthrough season for the young Catalonian as he was drafted into the Barca Juvenil A team while also making his first professional debut on the 24th of February 2018 in a 1-1 home draw against Gimnastic de Tarragona.

The young Catalonian was a vital figure in the U19 side for the Blaugrana last season as they won the 2018 UEFA Youth League title beating Chelsea 3-0 in the final with Puig making a total of 10 appearances and scoring 3 goals for the U19 side.

Not the tallest of players, about 1.7m high, on the pitch Riqui Puig is an embodiment of the Barcelona philosophy, blessed with exceptional technique, intelligence and ability to quickly execute a pass makes him the prototype midfielder that the Blaugrana is known to churn out from its famed Academy. The baby-faced midfielder attributes, physique and style of play has seen him being compared to the former No8 and Barcelona great Andreas Iniesta.

Riqui Puig is one of those right-footed versatile midfielders who are capable of playing in the centre of the midfield, as a defensive lynchpin, as an attacking midfielder or as a False 9.