Riqui Puig is willing to fight Ronald Koeman at Barcelona. The 21-year-old top talent was told this weekend that he is not included in the plans of the Dutch coach and may leave, but Puig is determined to prove Koeman wrong, so know Sport to report tonight.

Koeman did not include Puig in his Saturday match selection for the practice game with Elche (1-0 win) and confirmed that the young midfielder does not have to count on a lot of playing time this season. “I told Riqui Puig that it will be difficult for him to get a lot of playing time this season. However, I also told him that he still has a future with Barcelona. I recommend a temporary departure: at his age, he has to play a future”, the former coach of the Dutch national team said. Barça TV.

Koeman’s message initially hit Puig hard. The youngster comes from the youth training of Barcelona and last season he played eleven matches in the main force, in which he was good for two assists. Quique Setién gave the youngster a lot of confidence in his 4-3-3 system, but the 4-2-3-1 system Koeman seems to be opting for threatens to be negative for Puig. Yet he does not intend to let himself be chased away.

Sport assures Sunday night that Puig wants to stay with Barcelona this season anyway and fight for his chance. Catalonia’s biggest sports newspaper knows that the talented midfielder is determined to prove Koeman wrong and sees no merit in a rental period or a final departure. As such, Koeman’s hard message does not seem to lead to Puig’s departure for the time being.