Roony Bardghji didn’t take long to impress in the Danish Superligaen. The talented FC Copenhagen attacker celebrated his sixteenth birthday on Monday 15 November, making him eligible to play for Denmark’s highest league. Six days after his birthday, he made his debut with bravado as a base customer against Aarhus GF; On Sunday he scored his first goal at Aalborg BK (1-3 win).
Although he only just smelled the highest level, the name of Bardghji is not unknown to international top clubs. In February, based on reports in Danish media, it became clear that Bardghji, himself of Swedish descent, had received invitations from Ajax, Bayern Munich and Barcelona to do an internship. Chelsea is also associated with him. After his goal on Sunday, the youngster again received attention from the international press. ASH writes that Bardghji is sometimes even compared to Lionel Messi.
Roony Bardghji scored his first goal at the highest level against Aalborg BK on Sunday.
Bardghji made the switch from Malmö FF to FC Copenhagen last year. As a fourteen-year-old, the Swede became the top scorer in the Under-17 competition with fifteen goals in ten matches. In November last year, on his fifteenth birthday, the winger signed a multi-year contract. He joined the Copenhagen first team this month after his birthday via the Under-19s. In February it was heard that the top club values the growth brilliant at at least ten million euros.
In his first game against Aarhus, Bardghji suffered a cramp and had to be substituted after 65 minutes. On Sunday, he gave Copenhagen a 1-2 lead against Aalborg, after picking up the ball in midfield and finding the right corner from about 25 yards. In the end he took 80 minutes. “Roony did a fantastic job,” trainer Jess Thorup said on the club site afterwards. “He has done almost nothing wrong. On so many occasions he showed that he has the crucial X-factor. He created three or four chances and scored a beautiful goal himself. It is impressive to see his talent translate into smart decisions and actions on the pitch.”
These were Roony Bardghji’s best moves in his debut against Aarhus GF.
The question is getting stronger: how long will Bardghji be sustainable for Copenhagen? “The club has the strategy to fit more youth into the first team,” Thorup assured in conversation with TV3. “But they are not supposed to leave after a few games. They should stay here for years and help Copenhagen to achieve great things. When the time is right and the really big clubs come along, we are the springboard.” “But now he just has to play a huge number of games for Copenhagen and make the difference. It’s not time to leave yet.”