Raised in Barça’s lower categories, the captain who lifted the first UEFA Youth League for the club and experience in English, Spanish and Dutch football. Roger Riera reinforces Barça’s B defense..
Injuries have been a constant headache for García Pimienta this season, especially on defense. The season began without a right-back due to Sergi Rosanas’ long injury and on the first matchday Andrés Solano, newest signing, got injured for the entire season. Pimienta had to turn to Álvaro Sánz, midfielder, to fill the position. Later, Ramos Mingo also suffered an injury and Mika Mármol, left-back, went on to cover the position of centre-back. Captain José Marsà, who alternated with Alejandro Balde, climbed from the youth team, Juvenil A.
After months of absence, Sergi Rosanas returned to the field but a few minutes later he suffered a long-term injury and had to be replaced on the right side by Nico González, a midfielder. But this problem is now over.
Barça’s defense has suffered since the beginning of the league and on some occasions has shown its inexperience, so this signing was a must. At the request of García Pimienta, Roger Riera arrives with experience, knowledge and talent raised at La Masía. The 25-year-old footballer arrives for free from NAC Breda, a Dutch second division club, in an economically affordable signing to which the management board has given the ‘OK’.
Roger Riera can play both central defender and full-back, so he is a breath of fresh air for the reserve team. Also his experience in the lower categories of Nottingham Forest, the Celta de Vigo and Villarreal B team and his last spell at Netherlands’ silver category. Riera brings leadership, which he already showed by raising the Youth League as captain of Barça Juvenil A back in the day, which can be key in the promotion aspirations of the youngest Barça B.
The Catalan defender will wear the number 15 and will occupy the license that the injured Rosanas leaves free. After the medical tests, Roger Riera signs until the end of the season. Quality reinforcement. A signing finally granted to García Pimienta, of those signings that must be done for experience, quality, versatility and La Masía formation.
