Barcelona youngster earns praise from teammate after national team debut – ‘A ray of light’ | OneFootball

Having earned his maiden call-up to the Sweden senior national team, Barcelona youngster Roony Bardghji got his big moment on Friday as he made his debut against Switzerland.

It was not the dream debut he might have hoped for. Bardghji only played the final five minutes of the match and could not prevent Sweden from slipping to a 2-0 loss that further jeopardises their chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Nevertheless, those few minutes were enough for the young Barcelona forward to showcase his talent and spark excitement among fans and teammates alike.

Alexander Isak hails Bardghji

One of the leaders of the Swedish national team, Alexander Isak, publicly praised Bardghji after his debut against Switzerland.

“He’s a top-level player. I wouldn’t consider him a talent who’s been given a chance, but rather an established player. He’s where he is for a reason,” said the Liverpool record signing, as quoted by SPORT.

“He came on with great energy, it was a shame he came on in this situation, when we were losing 0-1. But for me, he was a ray of light for us despite the defeat,’ added Liverpool’s new signing,” Isak further noted.

Bardghji opens up on his debut

Bardghji made his Sweden senior debut vs Switzerland. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

Bardghji himself addressed the media after his debut for the Swedish national team, stating that it was a special moment for him despite the disappointing result.

“I haven’t played much, but I’ve been able to show a little bit anyway,” he said.

“It was special. It was something I had been waiting for for a long time. It would have been even better if we hadn’t lost, but it was a good day anyway. I think I played well. I showed what I can do and contribute,” Bardghji added.

Bardghji also reflected on what the team must do to get back on track in their World Cup qualifying campaign, saying:

“We have to play like we do with our clubs, without thinking so much about the pressure. Go out and enjoy ourselves, play good football. We have to give it our all, be offensive, create chances. If we do that, I think everything will go much better.”

Following his substitute appearance against Switzerland, there is a chance that Bardghji could get his first start for Sweden when they face Kosovo next week.