Riqui Puig has sent a message to Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman that he has no intention of leaving the club on loan this month, and he plans to stay and fight for his place.
Koeman said after the Joan Gamper victory over Elche on Saturday that he did not see Riqui as part of his short-term plans and that the player had a future at Camp Nou, but should go out on loan to achieve minutes.
The Dutchman is setting up Barcelona in a 4-2-3-1 formation and doesn't see a role for Riqui in either the double pivot or in the No. 10 position.
But the 21-year-old is a La Masia graduate who is seen as the player who can continue the club's heritage and maintain their style of play, something increasingly important to him in these desperate times.
And the player, who has been with Barcelona since the age of 14, has allegedly informed the club that he wants to stay and believes he can convince Koeman to give him minutes in this condensed season.
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Something else that counts in his favour is that he is on a modest salary and with the club desperately looking to cut costs in order to make acquisitions, a clear out could give him a greater chance of playing.
But for now Riqui stays - much to the delight of the Barcelona fans.
Riqui Puig 
Barcelona 
