Barcelona starlet Roony Bardghji has sent a strong statement to the hierarchy at the club, and indeed to manager Hansi Flick. The Swedish starlet was signed for €2.5m plus variables this summer from Copenhagen, with his contract there expiring at the end of the year, but has yet to be registered.
Bardghji burst onto the scene at Copenhagen as a 16-year-old, and was courted by a number of European giants before a cruciate ligament injury halted his progress. Barcelona have taken a gamble on him, despite not having played regular football since. However Bardghji made it clear that he had no intention of playing for Barca Atletic this season.
“I don’t think I would have signed if it was to play for the youth team. I’ve played over 100 games for an A team and I wouldn’t have agreed to go to a B team. That’s something you made up. It’s not true,” he told Expressen, as quoted by MD.
For the time being, Bardghji his been registered as a Barca Atletic forward, as the Blaugrana try to get him registered with the first team. There had been some suggestion that the 19-year-old could divide time between the senior side and Barca Atletic this year, or perhaps head out on loan. An idea that he knocked on the head.
“No, [I haven’t read anything in the press] nothing. From the beginning, both the club and I knew what the plan was. From day one, the key has been to be in the first team. Of all the things that have been said, none of them are true. It hasn’t affected me.”
Barcelona’s board have supposedly submitted a guarantee to register Bardghji, but La Liga are yet to verify it. He has however been included as a senior player in their Champions League squad.
“As many know… I don’t know if you could call it a problem, but they’ve been having difficulty registering players for several years. It wasn’t just me this year. It’s happened many times, and it’s something the club struggles with.”
“Yeah, that’s it. I think everything will be ready by then,” said Bardghji, explaining that he hopes to be registered for their next game with Valencia on the 14th of September.
On his adaptation to life off the pitch at Barcelona, Bardghji only had positive words.
“It’s been fantastic. I’m enjoying it. The city is fantastic, the club is fantastic. Everything is different, if I may say so. It’s difficult to answer because there are huge differences.”
The youthful dressing room has been praised in the past by Hansi Flick.
“It’s like a family. I haven’t felt that way at other teams I’ve been on. Many have grown up together and played together in the youth categories. You don’t have a group of friends you’re always with, but everyone sticks together.”
Bardghji was a major part of Barcelona’s preseason, scoring during their tour to Asia and looking like one of the more promising options in the final third. He will have his work cut out for opportunities though, with Lamine Yamal playing in his preferred position.