Barça launch 'Operation Riqui Puig'

He already produced a number of flashes of brilliance in preseason, when he stepped up to train with the senior side, after impressing for Barcelona B last campaign. And before long, his debut would arrive, in the Copa del Rey this week at the Nou Camp.

The ultimate stage; " I had the dream of being able to make by debut at the Camp Nou in this cup match and more, what with all of the others that managed to get on the field," declared Riqui Puig in his interview with 'Sport'. 

"I remember that in the first half, my hands were clammy and I was a bit nervous. At the break, Valverde told me to warm up and it was a bit more normal. Then after I had taken the field, everything was so much better," he added.

One of the biggest talents that has made his way through La Masia, hence the long term trust from the club. However, they do hold reservations on certain aspects of his game. The club are helping him to improve his physicality.

He stands at 1.69m tall, and only weighs 59kg; this hardly seems sufficient to cope with the competitiveness faced by a team like Barça. Therefore, the club have already set plans in motion so that the player can gain weight, strength and muscle mass, or so according to 'Mundo Deportivo'.

Puig on the other hand, is very clear on what he must do: "It is a characteristic that I always try to play the same wherever I go, in the Miniestadi or wherever. I think I did well to prove it at the Camp Nou, but my legs were shaking slightly, but in the end it was all good," the Catalan added.

The midfielder was sure to make it clear against Cultural Leonesa, that what he lacks in strength and physicality, he makes up for with magic. He made this point especially clear with his assist for Denis Suarez.