Joan Laporta pays €2 million and gets Barça in big trouble: 'Lamine Yamal is a...'

For a vast majority of soccer lovers, Lamine Yamal is the best player in the world today. Although Dembélé has won the Ballon d'Or, the feelings that Barça's "10" conveys are unmatched. Every time Lamine touches the ball, the crowd rises from their seats thanks to his video game-like dribbling and his ability to assist in impossible situations.

His offensive impact is enormous, and right now he is an undisputed piece in FC Barcelona's system. That's why Lamine Yamal is considered practically untouchable. Without him, the team suffers more than expected: his physical condition is a top priority for the Catalan club.

Joan Laporta's bet to give Lamine Yamal a rest

Joan Laporta, aware that an injury to Lamine Yamal could ruin the club's dreams, decided to shield the team against that possibility. Those precautions led the culé president to go after a reinforcement who could give Lamine Yamal a rest. That signing was Roony Bardghji, acquired this summer as a preventive measure.

Roony Bardghji cost €2 million, an amount that is not small for Barça's finances at this time. The Swede has arrived at Barça to give Lamine Yamal a rest or to take his place when the "10" can't play. However, the truth is that his performance is raising many doubts.

Roony Bardghji is not Lamine Yamal

Roony Bardghji landed at Barça with very impressive credentials and immediate media attention. His roadmap led him to sign a contract until 2029 as part of a future project. But, despite the shine of his arrival, Bardghji is still light years away from Lamine Yamal in terms of influence and dominance on the field.

Although he has had opportunities as a starter and substitute when Lamine Yamal hasn't been able to play, he hasn't managed to impose himself or show that he can sustain that level so consistently. It is expected that this adaptation will require time, patience, and many more convincing performances. Meanwhile, Joan Laporta accepts the reality: Lamine Yamal is an impossible player to replace.

When he invested those €2 million, Joan Laporta knew he was playing with fire: Roony Bardghji has potential, but he is still very raw. That pressure is enormous, because Lamine Yamal is not only a talent, but a symbol of the club for the fans. Bardghji can grow, but he will constantly be measured against Barça's "10" and that could be a long-term problem.