Rony Bardghji used his 45 minutes against Birmingham to underline why he remains a sought-after player in the current transfer market, but his impressive performance has also highlighted the difficult decision facing Barcelona sporting director Deco.
The Sweden winger was one of Barcelona’s most influential players after coming on in the second half of the friendly, which ended 2-2 before Birmingham won the penalty shootout. Bardghji brought pace, skill and greater decisiveness in the final third to Hansi Flick’s side during its strongest attacking spell of the match.
According to AS, Bardghji’s introduction coincided with Barcelona’s best period in the game. He registered two shots on target, completed 31 of 36 passes for an accuracy rate of 87%, completed two dribbles and recovered possession three times. He was also credited with committing 12 fouls.
The performance came at a significant moment for the 19-year-old, whose position is one of the main issues Deco must resolve before the transfer window closes.
Barcelona remain convinced of Bardghji’s ability and do not believe signing him was a mistake. However, competition for places on the wing is intense, and the arrival of Karim Adeyemi has made the Sweden international’s route into the starting line-up even more difficult. Adeyemi started against Birmingham, further underlining the challenge Bardghji faces.
The club’s sporting department recognises that Bardghji needs regular playing time if he is to continue developing. With opportunities at Barcelona likely to be limited, the view inside the club is that leaving could currently represent the best option for his career.
That does not mean Barcelona want to lose complete control of the player. Deco is keen to protect the club’s long-term interest, meaning any departure would ideally include terms allowing Barcelona to retain an influence over Bardghji’s future.
One possibility would be a buy-back option, allowing Barcelona to bring him back at a later date. Another would be a percentage of any future transfer fee if he is sold on. A temporary loan move is also under consideration as a way of ensuring Bardghji plays regularly while remaining connected to the Catalan club.
Bardghji is not short of potential suitors, according to the report, giving Barcelona several possible routes to resolve his situation before the window shuts.
His display against Birmingham therefore served two purposes. It demonstrated that he possesses the speed, technical quality and attacking instinct to make an impact at a high level, while also strengthening the argument that he should be playing more frequently elsewhere if Barcelona cannot offer him those minutes.
For Deco, the challenge is to find an agreement that allows Bardghji to continue his development without Barcelona losing the ability to benefit from the talent it still believes in.
