Riqui Puig was nicknamed the ‘new Andres Iniesta’ during his formative years at La Masia.
But while the one-time Barcelona wonderkid might never reach the impeccable standards set by a man who won all there is to win for club and country, his 13 minute cameo off the bench against Osasuna on Sunday offered a timely reminder of the twinkle-toed talent that Puig still carries in that diminutive 5ft 6ins frame.
After his initial shot was saved by visiting goalkeeper Sergio Herrera, Puig reacted at the speed of light to the rebound, dancing around the sprawling shot-stopper before taking an extra touch to bamboozle an onrushing defender.
Puig ended the move by clipping a stylish finish into the corner of the Osasuna net.
Effortless yet brutal in its efficiency; Puig’s second goal in Barca colours felt like a fitting tribute to a man he was so often tipped to emulate at the Camp Nou.
Is Riqui Puig’s time over at Barcelona?
But at the age of 22, and with just one La Liga start to his name this season, the chances of Puig sticking around to emulate Iniesta in Catalonia look decidedly slim.
Despite head coach Xavi’s admiration for the La Masia graduate, Puig has been overtaken in the Barcelona pecking order by teenagers Pedri and Gavi.
According to Sport, Wolverhampton Wanderers will offer Puig a fresh start this summer. Potentially as part of a deal that will see Adama Traore seal a permanent move to an upwardly-mobile, in-form Barcelona outfit.
Morgan Gibbs-White probably knows how Puig is feeling.
Once the rising star breezing through the ranks at his boyhood club, Gibbs-White looked destined for a first-team role at Wolves after bursting onto the stage in his teenage years.
But, after struggling to build on that early promise, Gibbs-White – like Puig – is facing an uncertain future with the summer window looming.
Gibbs-White out, Puig in?
According to TEAMtalk, Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Fulham are looking to take the Stafford-born 22-year-old away from Molineux.
Now, the situations facing Gibbs-White and Puig are not entirely identical. While one has found game time very hard to come by in 2021/22, the other has eight goals and seven assists – including a gorgeous backheel finish against Middlesbrough – to his name during a highlight-reel-filled loan spell at Sheffield United.
But there will still be an unavoidable sense of irony if Puig – another highly promising attacking midfielder who has fallen by the wayside at his boyhood club – ends up bringing the curtain down on Gibbs-White’s Wolves career.
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