Anthony Gordon says Barcelona has shown him a side of his game that he did not feel was properly recognised in England. In an interview with A Bola, the Barcelona forward said Spanish football has made his intelligence and quality more visible, and his early numbers in La Liga give the point some weight.

Barcelona's fit for Gordon

"I think I was never fully respected in England. People saw me only as someone very fast and very aggressive, whereas in Spain they appreciate my intelligence and quality," Gordon told A Bola, in comments translated from Portuguese. He added that at Barcelona, if a player is not technically gifted or intelligent, it stands out immediately.

That fits the move so far. Gordon has four assists in six La Liga games, with five assists in seven official matches overall. He has done that in 397 league minutes, which is a strong start for a player adjusting to a new league.

He also said the style in Spain is different from what he had at Newcastle. "I played at Newcastle, which was a team with a very high tempo, so running and aggression were always in evidence," Gordon said. "Now I play in a completely different style, where my other qualities can be seen."

The move and the early output

Barcelona signed Gordon on a contract valid until 2031 and the transfer was valued at €70 million, plus €10 million in additional objectives. He said the switch abroad was deliberate and that he wanted to prove he had more to offer than people thought.

Gordon has also spoken in Spanish at his presentation, and he said he had practised the language with the club's fitness coach from the north of England. The football side has matched the pitch-side confidence so far, with 4 La Liga assists already on the board.

Barcelona have won their last five league matches, which gives Gordon a strong team platform while he settles in. His next league outing will show whether the early assist rate keeps holding, but the first six games have already backed up his point about how Spain sees him.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →