Anthony Gordon given important role at Barcelona just weeks after his debut – and it says a lot!
Anthony Gordon has quickly become an important part of the Barcelona team, just weeks after his debut for the La Liga club. The 25-year-old has made a strong start at Camp Nou, providing four assists in only five games. Fans really like him, especially because he’s eager to learn Spanish and Catalan, and he’s putting in a lot of hard work on the field.
Gordon is not only popular with fans but also respected by his teammates. He’s been given a big role in the team’s leadership group, alongside players like Pedri and Rodri. This shows a lot about his character and how much he’s impressed everyone in such a short time.
According to a report from Ara, Gordon has joined a close group of players in the dressing room, including Pedri, Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo, Joan Garcia, and Rodri, rather than other foreign players like Frenkie de Jong or Wojciech Szczesny. On top of that, Gordon takes Catalan lessons twice a week, choosing to learn the language out of respect for the club, the fans, and the culture—not because he has to.
Barcelona fans showed their love for him by chanting his name during a recent 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano. His teammates even told him it’s rare for a new player to win over supporters so quickly. The report also says Gordon knows exactly what his role is in the team and fully gets what coach Hansi Flick expects from him.
Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, is very happy with the impact Gordon has made so far and feels he’s the perfect player for the team under Flick. Last summer, Barcelona could have signed Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford for £30 million but chose Gordon instead, in a deal worth around £69 million.
Deco told Catalan radio station RAC1, “We are very thankful to Rashford—he helped a lot last season—but our style fits much better with Anthony’s. The coach wanted a player like him. When Raphinha wasn’t on the pitch, the team lost energy, and Gordon helped solve that. It was a big plus that he really wanted to come and pushed Newcastle to let him leave.
“We knew exactly what we needed: more intensity. We looked at many wingers, but signing someone from the Premier League is almost impossible. Flick was clear about what he wanted, and we worked hard to get it done.”
Overall, Gordon is making a great impression at Barcelona, both on and off the pitch, and it looks like he’ll be a key part of the team moving forward.