Graham Potter leaves the door ajar for Barcelona’s Roony Bardghji

In a quiet press room at the Swedish Football Association, 20‑year‑old FC Barcelona winger Roony Bardghji listened as head coach Graham Potter signalled that the player’s international future remains open, despite his omission earlier from Sweden’s 2026 World Cup squad.

Bardghji’s omission sparked an internal disagreement with the coaching staff and members of the dressing room, leading to his exclusion from Sweden’s 2026 World Cup squad. After Sweden’s elimination by France, Potter adopted a more conciliatory tone toward the winger’s future.

When asked about Bardghji and fellow young prospects Williot Swedberg and Hugo Larsson, Potter clarified that none of them have been ruled out of future selections. “Now it’s time to focus on the September training camp. The door is not closed. The group worked very well during the World Cup, but it’s normal for the squad to evolve,” he said.

Potter added, “That’s football. The door is open, and we’ll see what happens.” His comments marked a shift from May, when Bardghji was not even listed in Sweden’s provisional 50‑man squad for the tournament.

Reports from Sweden indicated that tensions rose after the World Cup qualifying play‑off against Poland, where Bardghji did not feature and was visibly frustrated while the rest of the squad celebrated qualification. The player allegedly confronted Potter over his lack of playing time, an incident that contributed to his omission.

At 20, Bardghji is weighing several options to leave Barcelona this summer in search of regular first‑team football, with opportunities limited by the emergence of Lamine Yamal. Brighton & Hove Albion have emerged as one of the clubs monitoring the situation, especially as they prepare for the possible departure of Yankuba Minteh.

Barcelona are understood to be open to a transfer that includes a buy‑back clause, allowing the Catalan club to retain long‑term control over a talent they still regard as promising. The outcome could shape both Sweden’s squad evolution and Barcelona’s talent management strategy.