Barcelona starlet Riqui Puig – who left Lionel Messi ‘astonished’ – set to join MLS side LA Galaxy in shock transfer
BARCELONA star Riqui Puig, who once left Lionel Messi "astonished" at his ability as a teenager, is set to leave the club to join LA Galaxy.
The shock move comes four years after the young Spaniard made his debut for the Catalan giants.
But he has made just 14 first team appearances since then and does not feature in manager Xavi's future plans.
According to AS, playmaker Puig, 22, has reached a verbal agreement with the American outfit as he closes in on departing Barcelona.
Fabrizio Romano understands that the Spanish side want a guaranteed sell-on clause, but that all parties are optimistic a deal will get done.
It is a shock transfer given many Serie A sides were also thought to be interested in him - with his contract expiring next summer.
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And responses from Barca's superstar players when he was a teenager indicated he was a special talent.
Back in 2018, one report read: "All these situations are shaping the personality of a footballer who brings top quality and has a privileged vision of the game.
"Messi quickly realised that after Riqui started going to some training sessions with the first team last season.
"He wanted him at his side and, of course, the kid was happy to have his idol in front of him and on top of that, that he gave him the ball.
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"He was not the only one who was astonished.
"Luis Suarez, [Andres] Iniesta - a player whom he has many resemblances towards - were also captivated by his football."
Despite his promising talent as a teenager, Puig now finds himself way down the pecking order at the Nou Camp.
Gavi and Pedri are two of the highest-rated young central midfielders in Europe.
Sergio Busquets is still a fixture in the squad, with Frenkie de Jong also an option as he is yet to secure a move away.
Nico Gonzalez is another young talent who will look to continue his development this season, while Xavi also signed Franck Kessie on a free transfer after his AC Milan contract expired.
Puig's move from LA Galaxy to Barca has been facilitated by the fact that the two clubs have a strong relationship.
This comes following their negotiations around Sergi Roberto back in March.
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Roberto ultimately decided to stay in Spain, but the two clubs are said to have kept in touch.
LA Galaxy currently sit eighth out of 14 teams in the Western Conference of the MLS.