And when will Valverde consider Riqui Puig? Barcelona Jaime Rincon's opinion

We have just entered 2020, but the situation at Barcelona does not appear to be changing for one of their most exciting prospects: Riqui Puig.

The 20-year-old, along with Ansu Fati, is not expected to be named in Ernesto Valverde's squad list for the Catalan derby against Espanyol on Saturday, barring a last-minute surprise.

Much has been said about the immediate future of Riqui, with a possible loan mooted before quickly being shut down by the player himself, while a place in the first team appears to be a long way off under the current head coach.

Riqui hasn't been given the chance to shine at Barcelona just yet, not even with Arturo Vidal immersed in a lawsuit against the club, Carles Alena now on loan at Real Betis, and Arthur Melo out with an injury.

Valverde will likely go with a midfield trio of Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong and Ivan Rakitic, with Sergi Roberto being another option, but this should have been a chance to take a punt on a kid who has been hailed for many years in Barcelona's academy.

Taking risks on young players is not Valverde's thing, though. Whoever chooses to refer to Ansu Fati or Carles Perez should remember the dearth of options available at the time due to injury.

The fact is that we are not going to see Riqui be given an opportunity to show what he is capable of at the highest level in 2020.

Instead, Valverde - and seemingly the club - would prefer to leave him in the Segunda Division B, where he is kicked multiple times per game yet still manages to stand out above anyone else on the pitch.

Of course, the football that this Barcelona side plays is a far cry from the Pep Guardiola era, which Riqui would have been perfect for, but there is clearly the belief that nothing needs to be altered.

After all, why change when you are top of LaLiga Santander and in the last 16 of the Champions League, right?