While Barcelona fans eagerly awaited the team’s collective performance during their preparatory tour of Asia, one of their young players surprised everyone with a performance that attracted attention both inside and outside the club. This prompted the coaching staff, led by Hansi Flick, to make a decisive decision that could change the course of the new season.
Some thought the matter was merely a test run to evaluate a young player on the field. However, what happened in the final minutes of the friendly against Japan’s Vissel Kobe changed the equation and opened the door to a major shift in the German coach’s plan, which would not have been possible without an exceptional moment that caught the eye.
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The decisive moment came 13 minutes before the final whistle, when Ronnie Bardji received the ball on the right flank, then cut inside at remarkable speed before unleashing a smart shot into the far corner, announcing his first goal for Barcelona. The goal wasn’t just an ordinary goal; it was an official signing for the future.
According to sources close to the coaching staff, Flick made his final decision after the match, confirming that Bardji will remain with the first team through the 2025/2026 season and will not consider any loan or transfer offers, given his complete confidence in Bardji’s technical and physical capabilities.
The German coach sees Bardji as a flexible tactical asset, especially on the wing, where he has demonstrated a great ability to move into space, read attacks, and play with both feet, giving him rare versatility among young players.
The 19-year-old joined this summer from Danish club Copenhagen on a four-year contract, amid previous interest from other clubs. Beyond his talent, his diverse cultural background (of Syrian origin, born in Kuwait, and representing Sweden internationally) has given him precocious maturity, evident in his playing style and self-confidence on the pitch.
With the presence of big names in the attacking line, the path will not be easy for Bardji, but it is clear that Flick wants to use him as an alternative attacking player, at least at the beginning of the season, with the possibility of gradually giving him more minutes depending on his performance and development in training and official matches.
The debut was not just a goal… it was the beginning of a new chapter in Barcelona’s new project, named Ronnie Bardji, with its motto: “Courage creates opportunities.”
