Barcelona winger Roony Bardghji suffers anterior cruciate ligament tear

Roony Bardghji has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during Barcelona training, according to Spanish newspaper Sport, in an injury that could affect the winger’s prospects of leaving the club this summer.

Bardghji was injured during Barcelona’s session on Monday. Sport reports that the problem is in the same leg in which the 20-year-old previously suffered an injury.

The setback comes at a difficult time for Bardghji, who had been attracting interest from several clubs. His injury is now expected to complicate any potential move away from Barcelona, with the player’s availability and fitness likely to be central to any transfer discussions.

Bardghji’s future at the club had already become uncertain before the latest development. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick told him several days ago that he was not part of his plans, according to the report.

As a result, the winger was left out of Barcelona’s travelling squads for their matches against Nottingham Forest and Udinese. Bardghji had spent the club’s pre-season preparations trying to convince Flick that he deserved a role in the team.

The Sweden international, who has Syrian heritage, joined Barcelona from Copenhagen last summer. He made 28 appearances for the Catalan club in all competitions during the previous campaign, scoring two goals.

The injury therefore threatens to interrupt a period in which Bardghji was attempting to establish his position at Barcelona while also considering a possible departure. His efforts to impress Flick during preparations had not changed the manager’s view, and he was omitted from the squad for the two fixtures before suffering the latest setback.

Sport’s report states that the ligament damage is a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament, one of the serious knee injuries that can require a lengthy recovery. No timetable for Bardghji’s return has been provided in the report.

For Barcelona, the injury removes a potential transfer option at a time when clubs had reportedly shown interest in the winger. For Bardghji, it comes after he had been informed that he was not included in Flick’s plans and had been working to alter that decision on the training ground.

The 28 appearances recorded last season came across a range of competitions, with Bardghji managing two goals in his first campaign at Barcelona after arriving from Copenhagen. His current situation now combines an uncertain role under Flick with a serious injury that could prevent him from making an immediate move.