Barca follow Mastantuono's method: Bardghji registered with reserve team

BeSoccer 3 days ago 1.3k
Barca registered Roony Bardghji with their reserve side Barca Atletic. EFE

Barcelona sidestepped a late registration headache by employing the 'Mastantuono method', registering Roony Bardghji with the reserve team in the Spanish fourth tier due to financial constraints.

Faced with the difficulty of complying with Financial Fair Play regulations, Barcelona have registered Swedish winger Roony Bardghji with their reserve side, Barca Atletic, who compete in the Spanish fourth tier, according to the Catalan Football Federation's website.

Barca, who managed to register Gerard Martin on Friday and Wojciech Szczęsny on Saturday with La Liga, found no other solution due to financial control regulations stipulating that clubs cannot spend more than they earn.

Nevertheless, the 19-year-old midfielder remains eligible for selection to Hansi Flick's first-team squad, who suffered their first setback of the campaign on Sunday, drawing 1-1 against Rayo in Vallecas.

Real Madrid also employed this legal manoeuvre with Argentinian youngster Franco Mastantuono, who was registered with their reserve team with the number 30, despite training and playing with the first team, thus freeing up an additional spot in the main squad.

Bardghji arrived at Barcelona from F.C. Copenhagen, who signed him in the summer of 2020 after he began in the Malmo youth system. In 2022, he progressed to the first team of the Danish club, where he played 84 matches and scored 15 goals.

Mentioned in the news story

Barcelona
Barça Atlètic
Segunda División RFEF
R. Bardghji