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BARCELONA

Riqui Puig brushes aside Kluivert's loan recommendations

The young Barcelona midfielder has said he has no intentions of leaving the club after youth academy director Kluivert had claimed it was in his best interests to seek a loan assignment.

Update:
Riqui Puig brushes aside Kluivert's loan recommendations
GORKA LEIZADIARIO AS

Barcelona promise Riqui Puig has played down talk of a loan move and contradicted youth academy director Patrick Kluivert’s claims that it would be in the 20-year-old’s best interests to seek out a temporary stint at another club.

Asked about Kluivert’s comments at an event in Barcelona, Puig said that the ultimate decision would fall on Barça sporting director Eric Abidal but stressed his desire to remain at the club.

“He [Kluivert] has not spoken to me. There is also Abidal, who is above him so you have to speak with Abidal,” said the young midfielder, in a clear sign of contempt for Kluivert's words.

“At all times I have said that I want to stay at Barça… At the moment I’m not considering leaving the club and everything is going very well. I'm going to stay here,” he added.

“Some manager has talked to my father, but they have not made it very clear what they want to do with me. The club has always trusted me a lot, they want me to triumph here and they see me as an investment."

Barcelona youth director, Patrick Kluivert.
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Barcelona youth director, Patrick Kluivert.Getty Images

Puig on Ernesto Valverde

Puig also spoke of his relationship with Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.

The Masia graduate stated that he has had very little contact with the coach this season because of his distance from the first team, while also acknowledging that he understands that Valverde’s reasons for excluding him are due to stiff competition in the midfield.

"We have not had the opportunity to speak. Now I am going up less to the first team, I do not have much of a relationship with him,” said the young Spaniard.

“It is true that this year I am scoring goals, I am assisting and we are all at a great level at Barça B.

"The opportunities above are hard to come by but when I have had the opportunity I have shown that I have the level to be in the first team. You have to understand Valverde as he has many players available in the centre of the field.”