Amid anticipation for the start of the 2025/26 season, Barcelona’s pre-season camp witnessed a surprise that was neither on the media’s radar nor within the technical staff’s initial expectations.
German coach Hansi Flick, returning for his second season with the Blaugrana, led the first training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, where he met both returning and new players amid intense focus and preparation for the upcoming season.
Related topics
Despite the many high-profile names returning from their summer break, one name stood out early on—without having been previously discussed in the media or even by Barcelona fans.
Nineteen-year-old Swedish winger Ronie Bardghji, who joined Barcelona from Copenhagen for just €2 million, surprised everyone with his impressive technical level and professional demeanor in his first training appearance with the team.
According to sources close to the technical staff, Flick himself was “surprised by the player’s quality and technical maturity, despite his young age and limited experience in Spain.”
The left-footed talent showed exceptional signs from the very first moments of training, emerging as the most energetic and engaged in drills and tactical situations.
Initially described as a “long-term investment,” the Bardghji deal took on new significance after the first session. The player showed consistency and delivered a performance that Flick’s assistants described as “ready for first-team level.”
The German coach has officially decided to keep Bardghji with the first team for the entire pre-season and not send him back to the youth squad.
According to sources within Barcelona’s management, two scenarios are currently being considered regarding the player’s immediate future:
The first is to keep him with the first team if he maintains this level during the upcoming Asian tour.
The second is to loan him out to a La Liga club to gain more experience and regular playing time.
However, enthusiasm for him is steadily growing within the club, and it seems the real surprise is only just beginning.
In a season where Barcelona faces fierce competition both domestically and in Europe, the emergence of Ronie Bardghji appears to be a new glimmer of hope for fans eager to see young talent embody the club’s identity. So far, the young Swede has taken a confident first step toward proving himself—one that, according to sources close to the camp, may have already reshaped Flick’s tactical vision for the upcoming season.
