Barcelona tried to sign Argentine winger in €10 million deal before Roony Bardghji | OneFootball

The signing of Roony Bardghji during the summer transfer window has quickly proven to be a shrewd piece of business from FC Barcelona.

The sporting department, spearheaded by director Deco, opted for the Swedish winger with a strong focus on value for money, closing the deal for just over two million euros – a bargain considering his potential and impact.

Since arriving, Bardghji has made a big impression, delivering convincing performances whenever he has been given a chance by manager Hansi Flick.

Barcelona wanted Ian Subiabre before Bardghji

However, according to Carlos Monfort of SPORT, before committing to Bardghji, Barcelona had another young winger firmly on their radar: Ian Subiabre of River Plate.

Indeed, Barça had been scouring South America for a young, skilful wide player, and Subiabre’s profile strongly appealed to the sporting leadership.

Barcelona tried to sign Ian Subiabre in the summer. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)

So much so that Barcelona even submitted a formal offer close to €10 million for the 18-year-old Argentine attacker, who scored three goals in six matches at the most recent South American U-20 Championship.

However, in the end, the La Liga champions opted to move for Bardghji, with the insistence of Deco. The Swedish youngster was a personal favourite of the former midfielder, who had been tracking him for months.

Even a long-term injury failed to cool the Barça director’s interest, as he trusted the player’s talent and potential. In the end, the club chose Bardghji – a decision that now looks clearly justified.

So far this term, the 20-year-old Swede has scored one and assisted two goals from 341 minutes in 13 matches across all competitions.

As for Subiabre, he remains at River Plate and continues to attract interest from several major European clubs, with his contract running until December 31, 2026.