Roony Bardghji is not going through an easy period. After a challenging end to the season with Barcelona where regular minutes were hard to come by, the 20-year-old winger received a massive psychological blow when Sweden manager Graham Potter left him off the 26-man roster for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America.
Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported that Bardghji was excluded due to an incident during the team’s qualification celebrations after defeating Poland. According to their report, Bardghji was visibly upset and complaining about his lack of playing time under Potter.
Potter later tried to downplay the drama in public, claiming he noticed nothing unusual during the party because he was too busy celebrating. He said that it was a simple matter of other players being currently ahead of Bardghji in the pecking order.
Now, Bardghji has decided to share his side of the story in an interview with Expressen, one of Sweden’s top newspaper, forcefully denying any locker-room misconduct.
“I decided to not make comments about the fact I was not selected for the World Cup, as I understood that it was the manager’s decision. I have always respected the decisions of my coaches, whether I agreed or not,” Bardghji said.
However, the nature of the rumors pushed him to speak out. “I understood that I had to speak because the rumors spread in that article had no foundation. I was very happy and proud that we qualified for the World Cup, despite the fact I did not participate on the pitch. I still feel that I form part of the team. All those rumors that have been said of me are nonsense.”
The winger also emphasized his commitment to both his country and his club, adding, “Contrary to what was said, I enjoyed the dinner after the match very much. We celebrated it with my teammates, the way I did it after winning the league with Barcelona last week.”
Bardghji might be celebrating Barca’s recent La Liga title, but his club future is a massive question mark. Coach Hansi Flick has used him sparingly all year. Bardghji averaged just 16 minutes per appearance this season, managing two goals and four assists in 27 games.
Back in March, the player openly voiced his frustration to the press, stating, “I have patience, but I sincerely believe that I deserved to play more. I am not 100% happy.”
Opportunities were supposed to open up for the Swede when Lamine Yamal suffered an injury against Celta de Vigo, ruling the Spanish phenom out for the final stretch of the season. But Bardghji didn’t really show much in those final two games. There are some reports that he may be looking for an opportunity to play more elsewhere.
However, according to the rumor mill, Barcelona leadership and, in particular, Deco, has no intention of selling the young winger. But rumors persist about a potential move - perhaps on a loan or transfer with a buyback option.