Barcelona midfielder Sergi Samper has insisted that he hopes to convince Luis Enrique that he deserves playing time this season, but is open to going out on loan.
The 21-year-old recently signed a new contract with the club, and is evidently keen on making a breakthrough at the Nou Camp in the coming years.
However, with additional competition arriving this summer in the form of Denis Suarez and Andre Gomes, it doesn’t appear as though he’ll get the playing time that he craves.
While his primary objective is to convince Enrique to give him a chance, it’s clear that a move out on loan to gain experience is also an option on the table.
“I still haven’t spoken to him [Enrique],” the youngster told Marca. “There’s competition, but I think the team is better.
“If the coach tells me it’s best to leave on loan, I will accept it. My preference is to stay here though, I want to stay. There are many games and the season is very long. There are many great midfielders here, with great quality. There is a lot of competition, but the season is very long and there will be opportunities for all.”
Barca boast a high-quality group of midfielders that will all be fighting it out for a place in the starting line-up this season, with Ivan Rakitic, Andre Iniesta and Sergio Busquets expected to form the preferred three-man midfield.
However, with the new arrivals looking to displace them, it’s likely to be even more difficult for the younger midfielders in the squad to make their mark in the more immediate future.
In turn, a loan move would arguably be the best decision for Samper at this stage of his career, as he certainly has the talent but needs the experience to go with it.