Kays Ruiz-Atil – Former La Masia player returns to Barcelona from PSG

Barcelona announced the signing of Kays Ruiz-Atil. He signs for Barça B coming back to the Catalan club after he was forced to leave in 2015.

His Journey from La Masia to PSG back to Barcelona

Kays joined La Masia back in 2009 at the age of 7 from Olympique Lyon and spent 6 years in the famous academy. Due to UEFA sanctions on Barcelona in 2015, Kays Ruiz was forced to leave Barcelona, eventually joining PSG. However, his transfer to PSG was not simple as it might have looked.

The Parisian club was accused of signing Kays illegally, with a very suspicious employment of Kays father – Radouan. Eventually, no legal procedure took part and the French club received the approval of institutions of the transfer. In 2018 he signed his first professional contract keeping him at PSG until the summer of 2021. The same year he was promoted to U19. There he became a regular under ex-Barcelona player Thiago Motta just at the age of 16. A few years later he made his debut for the first team against Lens. He started the game, eventually playing 68 minutes.

At that time the coach of PSG Thomas Tuchel was a big fan of his calling up the young midfielder to train with the first team. Kays appeared on 7 occasions in Ligue 1. However, when Pochettino arrived he sent the player back to train with U19. Eventually, despite the contract renewal offers from PSG, Kays decided to leave the club. Before the interest of Barcelona, Chelsea under Tuchel were heavily linked with the youngster and considered as favourites to sign the youngster. Eventually, he decided to come back to Barcelona, where his big dream of making it to the first team of Barcelona started back in La Masia. 

Playing Style

Kays Ruiz-Atil is a right-footed midfielder who can play as a central midfielder or an attacking midfielder. With early development at La Masia, you can admire Kay’s passing ability with Barca DNA implemented by youth coaches, when he was a child. Elegant, while at the same time skilful on the ball his playing style reminds me of Iniesta and Thiago. Meanwhile, his acceleration and pace help him to avoid pressure from any midfielder despite having a smaller body. With a lower centre of gravity, he is a great dribbler with incredible technique.

Future at the club

Kays Ruiz could join the first team for pre-season, but the club would be looking to develop him further in the B team before him making the jump to the first team, if he impresses enough. A great talent that came back to the club could become one of the key figures under Sergi Barjuan to help the new Barcelona B coach start an adventure in the new First RFEF division.