Roony Bardghji impresses for Barcelona as Deco weighs loan or transfer

Barcelona winger Roony Bardghji used his 45-minute appearance against Birmingham to underline that he remains an attractive option in the current transfer market, despite uncertainty over his immediate future at the club.

The Sweden international 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 greater pace, technical ability and urgency to Hansi Flick’s attack, while also showing composure in the final third.

According to AS, Bardghji’s introduction coincided with Barcelona’s strongest attacking spell of the match. He registered two attempts on target and completed 31 of his 36 passes, giving him an 87% passing accuracy. The winger also completed two dribbles and recovered possession three times.

His performance has added another layer to a decision sporting director Deco must make before the transfer window closes. Barcelona continue to believe in Bardghji’s ability and do not consider his signing to have been a mistake. However, competition for places on the wing is intense, and the arrival of Karim Adeyemi who started against Birmingham is expected to make first-team opportunities even harder to secure.

The club’s sporting department recognises that Bardghji needs regular playing time if he is to continue developing. That belief has led to the view that leaving Barcelona could be the best option for the player at this stage of his career.

Deco, however, wants Barcelona to retain some control over Bardghji’s long-term future. Any departure is therefore likely to be structured with the club’s interests in mind, whether through a buy-back option, a percentage of a future sale or a loan agreement.

Bardghji is not short of potential suitors, meaning Barcelona have several possible routes to consider. The decision will centre on finding a solution that gives the winger the minutes he needs without cutting the club’s ties with a player it still regards as a significant talent.

His display against Birmingham came at an important time. With the transfer window approaching its close and Adeyemi now competing for a place in the wide positions, Bardghji’s performance demonstrated both his readiness to contribute and the difficulty of guaranteeing him a regular role at Barcelona.

For Deco, the challenge is to balance the club’s faith in Bardghji with the practical need to ensure he plays often enough to fulfil his potential. The winger’s showing may have strengthened his case in the market, but it has not removed the underlying dilemma over whether his next step should be a permanent move, a loan or a deal that allows Barcelona to bring him back in the future.