News Focus
- Roony Bardghji strongly denies media claims about his attitude following World Cup squad omission
- Sweden coach Graham Potter excluded the 20-year-old Barcelona winger from the 2026 tournament squad
- Reports alleged Bardghji skipped team celebrations, which the player calls completely false
- The Swedish international insists he enjoyed the post-match dinner with his national teammates
- Transfer speculation persists as Bardghji battles Lamine Yamal for a starting role at Barcelona
Barcelona winger Roony Bardghji has issued a fierce denial of media reports linking his World Cup exclusion to poor behaviour. The 20-year-old Sweden international spoke out after suggestions that his attitude influenced Graham Potter’s decision to drop him from the squad.
Swedish media outlets claimed Bardghji failed to attend team celebrations following the playoff victory that secured qualification. These reports suggested this upset the national team coach. However, the player has told Expressen that these stories have no basis in truth.
“I initially decided not to comment on my failure to make the World Cup squad,” Bardghji stated. “I have always respected my coaches’ decisions, even when I disagree. However, I had to speak because the rumours in that article were nonsense. They were completely false.”
The young attacker confirmed he took part in the post-match dinner and enjoyed celebrating with his colleagues. He compared this to the recent festivities when Barcelona clinched the La Liga title. Bardghji was part of the squad that secured the domestic championship last week.
Potter named his final 26-man panel for the North America tournament next month. Bardghji featured in the qualifying playoffs during March but lost his place for the main competition. Despite his personal disappointment, he maintains he remains supportive of the national team.
Meanwhile, speculation about Bardghji’s club future continues to grow. The Swedish star operates on the right flank but faces intense competition from teammate Lamine Yamal. Many observers believe he could depart the Spotify Camp Nou this summer in search of regular first-team football.