Anthony Gordon got everyone talking with what he did on his unusual Champions League debut.
Barcelona fans can’t stop talking about Anthony Gordon after his Champions League debut in their big 5-1 win over Feyenoord. Gordon came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute, with Barca already leading 3-1, replacing Karim Adeyemi. While he didn’t score or assist, many noticed one thing he kept doing during his time on the pitch, which got a lot of attention on social media.
With Gordon playing, Barca scored two more goals, thanks to Lamine Yamal and new signing Gabriel Jesus. This marked the third game in a row that Hansi Flick’s team scored five goals, following wins against Valencia and Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.
Fans said Barcelona played even better when Gordon was on the field, praising his unselfish play and how he helped create chances for his teammates, even when the game was already in hand.
“He should get the MVP; he changed the whole vibe when he came on,” one fan commented.
“Meet Anthony ‘set up’ Gordon,” said another.
“Anthony Gordon is so unselfish,” added a third.
“When Gordon comes on, we just start playing better,” said a fourth.
One more wrote, “Anthony Gordon is strong – look at that hold-up play!”
One striking thing about Gordon’s start at Barcelona is how fast he’s settled in. The 25-year-old joined from Newcastle for £69.3 million in June and surprised many by speaking some Spanish at his unveiling. He’s also learning Catalan, which is important in Barcelona as it’s seen as the city’s own language.
According to Spanish media, Gordon really wants to fit in and has shown how much he wants to be part of the Barca family. The Athletic’s Pol Ballus shared that after fans chanted Gordon’s name during a break in a game against Vallecano, his teammates went up to him to highlight how rare and special that is.
“Usually, fans only sing your name after you’ve really earned it,” the report said. “Gordon has won the fans over much faster than expected.”
Also worth noting: Gordon is one of just 13 English players to ever play for Barcelona. Since World War II, only Gary Lineker and Marcus Rashford have joined the club from England.