Audio recordings have been made of FC Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig, who is close to leaving the club.
Puig was chatting with classmates from a driving school of his former and current Blaugrana colleagues.
Puig on Ferran’s arrival: ‘Guardiola didn’t want him’
Puig can be heard giving his thoughts on Ferran Torres’ transfer from Manchester City to Barca earlier this year, and on the departure of Camp Nou legend Lionel Messi last summer.
The 22-year-old, who is set to leave Spain to join MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy, also talks about rejecting transfer offers to England and Italy.
In the recordings, which were released by Barca-focused podcast Dongcast and made during a driving course attended in February, Puig talks about Torres’ arrival in the Catalan capital: “[L’entraîneur principal de City, Pep] Guardiola didn’t want him – he only played 12 games last season.”
Sympathy for Messi over Barca departure
Discussing the departure of Messi, who signed for Paris Saint-Germain in July 2021 after 17 years in Barca’s first team, Puig says he can understand the Argentina captain’s distress at leaving the LaLiga giants. “At the end of the day, he had been at the club since he was 14,” he said.
Puig also reveals he had previously received offers from Premier League side Chelsea and Serie A side AC Milan but preferred to stay at Barcelona for fear of homesickness. “It’s all well and good over there and these teams pay you double, but in the end you’re out there on your own,” said Barca’s youngster.