Rivaldo praises 'brave' Koeman ability to use youngsters like Riqui Puig and Pedri

Rivaldo believes that Barca need to rely more on young talents amid financial troubles.

The Brazilian says that Riqui Puig reminds him of young Xavi.

The young players at the club will help Barca fight for titles in the future, Rivaldo claims.

"Attending to current Barcelona financial problems, the club needs a brave manager capable of using younger players from La Masia, and that's exactly what Ronald Koeman is doing right now in which I consider to be very good work," Rivaldo writes in his column for Betfair.

"He recently restarted to use Riqui Puig and the midfielder is proving his value with great personality reminding me of Xavi when he first started to show up at Barcelona squad.

"Along with Pedri, who is playing more often, Barcelona may have a glimpse of the club's future in a time we are going through a clear reformulation on the squad. It will be important to mix things nicely to keep Barcelona fighting for titles during this phase."

Koeman has indeed been giving more playing time to Puig lately, with the youngster starting in the Copa del Rey matches vs Cornella and Rayo Vallecano.

Besides, the coach counts on youngsters like Pedri, Ronald Araujo, and Oscar Mingueza. 18-year-old Ilaix Moriba made his senior debut under Koeman earlier this season.