Riqui Puig will play for Barcelona first team, but I don't know when that will be, says Ernesto Valverde

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde insists young midfielder Riqui Puig will go on to play for the club's first team, but claims he does not know when that will happen.

Puig made three appearances under Valverde in 2018-19, two of those in La Liga, but has not been named in any of the senior squads this term despite impressing in pre-season.

The midfielder, now 20, said this week that he may have to consider a move out on loan due to a lack of opportunities compared to last season, when he was training more regularly with the first team.

"We have a lot of players in midfield and every time I come here (to a press conference), I'm asked about the ones who aren't in the squad," Valverde said on Monday.

"But Riqui Puig is a talent and it's clear he is going to play at Barca. We just don't know when. He is in a period of development and the period is in at Barca B is helping him."

Meanwhile, Valverde praised Antoine Griezmann for his "incredible work" for the team and revealed that he expects even more from the French forward.

"Griezmann has to add attacking level to his defensive work," the Barca coach said. "But not leave the latter. He does incredible work for us.

"He has the ability to go forward and to score lots of goals. We hope he can score more."