Galaxy target Puig talks Messi and more in driving-school recordings
The Dongcast podcast has published audio recordings of LA Galaxy target Riqui Puig talking to classmates about topics such as Lionel Messi’s Barcelona exit.
Audio recordings have emerged of Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig, who is close to a move away from the club, discussing current and former Blaugrana colleagues with classmates at a driving school.
Puig on Ferran arrival: “Guardiola didn’t want him”
Puig can be heard giving his view on Ferran Torres’ move from Manchester City to Barça earlier this year, and Camp Nou legend Lionel Messi’s departure from the club last summer.
The 22-year-old, who is poised to leave Spain to join MLS team the Los Angeles Galaxy, also talks about his rejection of offers to move to England and Italy.
In the recordings, which were published by the Barça-focused podcast Dongcast and were made during a driving course Puig took in February, the player says of Torres’ arrival in the Catalan capital: “[City head coach Pep] Guardiola didn’t want him - he only played 12 games last season.”
Sympathy for Messi over Barça departure
Discussing the departure of Messi, who signed for Paris Saint-Germain in July 2021 after 17 years in the Barça first team, Puig says he can understand the Argentina captain’s distress at departing the LaLiga giants. “At the end of the day, he’d been at the club since he was 14 years old,” he said.
“Those teams pay you double, but...”
Puig also reveals that he previously received offers from Premier League club Chelsea and Serie A side AC Milan, but that he preferred to stay in Barcelona over fears of homesickness. “It’s all well and good there and those teams pay you double, but in the end you’re over there all on your own,” the Barça youth product said.