With their relentless high press and pretty, purposeful possession football, Leeds United are more Barcelona than Barcelona these days.
So if there’s no place for Riqui Puig in Ronald Koeman’s engine room, where better than Elland Road for this La Masia-made midfield maestro to fulfil the potential that makes him perhaps the most exciting creative midfielder to emerge from Catalonia since Andres Iniesta?
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds are perhaps the closest thing in style we have in Europe to that all-conquering Barcelona side of 2009 to 2012.
As you may have heard, Pep Guardiola learned everything he knows from Bielsa’s bible. And Puig would arrive in West Yorkshire with the seal of approval from some of the game’s modern-day greats – and, erm, Quique Setien.
According to the legendary Xavi Hernandez, 21-year-old Puig is a player with Barcelona “DNA”. Departed Barca manager Setien described the diminutive playmaker as “extraordinary”, while AC Milan great Daniel Massaro believes a “new Iniesta” could be emerging from the shadows of Camp Nou.
In fact, it seems the only man who doesn’t rate Puig as a truly exceptional talent is the man who really matters. Since taking over from Setien, Koeman has handed the academy graduate a grand total of three La Liga minutes.
90Min reports Leeds United, Monaco and RB Leipzig have been lined up as potential loan destinations for a man crying out for game time.
And, with Gennaro Gattuso’s gushing praise ringing in his ears, it would be no surprise if Napoli came calling too.
“Riqui is spectacular,” Napoli boss Gattuso said after a then-teenage Puig sparkled in an International Cup clash between Barcelona and AC Milan (Goal).
“Even though (Barca) have players that look like kids, the way they handle the ball amazes me. It’s the beauty of football. It’s like poetry.”
And if there’s one man who symbolises the ‘beauty of football’, he can usually be found crouching on the Elland Road touchline.
Puig may have Barcelona DNA but it might take a move away from Camp Nou for this “new Iniesta” to fulfil his destiny.
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