Barça is working flat out to prepare for next season. A season in which Hansi Flick’s priority is to strengthen his attack with the much-desired left winger, but to achieve this, the club must offload some players, which is currently the priority for the Azulgranas. Despite the complex situation with the first team, as demonstrated by the signing of Roony Bardghji, the Azulgrana are also focused on the future, which, as this season has shown with the lack of signings, could be the solution to their problems.
La Masía has been key
Barça has just ended a season in which it won the Spanish Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, and LaLiga, and La Masía has been key in all of them. The Azulgrana team has always been committed to its youth academy, but in times of economic weakness, with no levers available and a war economy in terms of signings, the club has found the necessary lifeline in its youth academy.
Names such as Pedri in midfield and the emergence of Lamine Yamal are just a few examples of the Barça brand that have been key this season, but they are not the only ones. In defense, Pau Cubarsí has been key, an undisputed starter at just 18 years old. On the left wing, Alejando Balde has also been a key player in Hansi Flick’s starting eleven. Héctor Fort has not been as influential, but he has had his minutes and contributed as one of the team.
In midfield, in addition to the magical Pedri, who has taken a leap in quality and is enjoying the best moment of his career, Fermín López, scorer of one of the goals in Cornellà that won the league title, Gavi and Casadó, until his injury, have also been key at various points of the season.
Bardghji, the latest young talent to arrive
Roony Bardghji began to dazzle in December 2023 thanks to his goal against Manchester United in Copenhagen’s 4-3 victory. Since then, Barcelona has been following him closely until reaching this point where they have finalized his signing and, from minute one, he has been working in the first team where he seems to be convincing Flick in his first training sessions.
He is “a striker who uses his change of pace and direction very well. He doesn’t need to use fancy tricks to get away in a one-on-one situation. He is very direct,” says Bruno Alemany. The winger suffered a spectacular anterior cruciate ligament injury during training in May 2024 and was out for almost a year. He now seems to be fully recovered and, although he will be combining first-team and reserve team action, he is one of the Barça’s future prospects, but not the only one.
Barça is keeping a close eye on Riquelme Felipe
Barça has its sights set on Fluminense’s new promising player. The Catalan club has Riquelme Felipe on its radar, an 18-year-old left winger who Deco likes, according to Mundo Deportivo. Riquelme has a clause in his contract with Fluminense specifying that for clubs outside Brazil, his contract expires in March 2026. The Catalan club sees this as a favorable situation to acquire a Brazilian gem and achieve what Real Madrid has done with Vinicius, Endrick, and Rodrygo.