According to MARCA, Barcelona’s move for Roony Bardghji this summer was not as sudden as it may have appeared.
The outlet mentions that while many were surprised to see the 18-year-old Swedish winger in a Barcelona shirt given his direct overlap with Lamine Yamal’s position, the reality is that sporting director Deco had been tracking him closely for a long time.
Bardghji was one of just three signings Barça completed during the window. Unlike the other two, however, Bardghji’s arrival carried an element of intrigue.
Signed from Copenhagen for just €2 million, he was regarded by Deco as an investment in both talent and mentality.
His recovery from a torn cruciate ligament suffered in 2024 was carefully monitored, and only once it became clear that he was fully fit did Barcelona finalise the move.
A long-standing interest
The Catalan club had, in fact, tried to sign Bardghji last year. Talks were held with his entourage, but the serious knee injury abruptly ended negotiations.
Barcelona have been tracking Roony Bardghji since 2024. (Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images)
Even so, Deco did not let the winger slip off his radar. Over the following months, he kept in contact, holding regular meetings with his representatives, offering reassurance that Barcelona still believed in his future.
For Deco, Bardghji ticked several boxes. On the technical side, his pace, close control, ability to beat defenders one-on-one, and powerful shot were highlighted as key attributes.
Beyond the pitch, what impressed Deco even more was the teenager’s character, as Bardghji views competition – even with a generational talent like Yamal – as motivation rather than a barrier.
Now registered with the first team
The winger has already underlined his determination, made shortly before his La Liga registration was completed, showing no signs of intimidation.
For him, the objective is to succeed at Barcelona and carve out a place in one of the most demanding attacking lines in Europe.
In many ways, Bardghji’s arrival represents Barcelona’s future, one that Deco had been planning for well before this summer’s deal was done.