Anthony Gordon has only played five matches for Barcelona since joining in May, but the England winger is already making a big impression. The former Newcastle United forward has provided four assists in his first five games for the free-scoring Spanish giants. The 25-year-old is still hunting his first goal, but has slotted seamlessly into Barcelona's attack - in a left-wing spot often filled by on-loan England team-mate Marcus Rashford last term.
And Gordon is not just making an impression on the pitch. He delivered his welcome speech in Spanish - a language he said he learned with the help of one of Newcastle's Spanish physios - before adding a couple of phrases in Catalan when speaking with fans. While there were some questions over the decision to pay £70m for Gordon, it is easy to see why Barcelona's supporters are already chanting his name.
When Gordon completed his move this summer to become only the second English player to join Barcelona on a permanent deal, after Gary Lineker in 1986, there was plenty of curiosity surrounding the transfer. It was a significant investment in a player who, despite an outstanding Champions League campaign, had been inconsistent in the Premier League and posted relatively modest numbers. Newcastle finished 12th in the league, while Gordon managed six league goals and two assists in 26 appearances - with three goals coming from the penalty spot.
Naturally, that raised questions about whether he could slot straight into Barcelona's starting XI. Just a few months earlier, Gordon had been given a glimpse of exactly what playing at the Nou Camp would feel like when Newcastle travelled to Barcelona for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. The Magpies were beaten 7-2 on the night - losing 8-3 on aggregate - but for Gordon, there was something significant about being in Barcelona and the occasion offered a taste of the stadium he would ultimately find himself calling home.
His European record also told a very different story to his domestic campaign. Gordon netted 10 goals in 12 Champions League appearances, consistently raising his level against the best teams in Europe. Only Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe (15) and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane (14) scored more than Gordon in the Champions League last season.
The Englishman has hit the ground running in Spain and become an influential presence in Hansi Flick's Barcelona attack. While he is still waiting for his first goal, Gordon's pace and directness are well suited to Barcelona's attack. "Our idea of play is much more linked to Anthony's," Barcelona sporting director Deco replied when asked why they had chosen Gordon over Rashford.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
