In the middle of Spotify Camp Nou stadium, Anthony Gordon stands out in a special way. Among the former La Masia students with his characteristic appearance, the English player attracts attention with his white skin and blonde hair. Gordon does not have the typical appearance of a Barcelona player, but what he shows on the field is helping him quickly erase that difference.
Right in his debut match, Gordon made his mark when he came on as a substitute and made two assists in just 6 minutes, contributing to Barcelona's 5-0 victory over Elche. In his first match starting at Camp Nou, he continued to show that he could quickly adapt to the new environment.
After many years playing in the Premier League, the 25-year-old player seems to be given more space to develop his ball handling ability, speed and direct movements.
In England, Gordon often faces deep defenses and has the task of finding ways to penetrate in tight spaces. At Barcelona, he is placed in a more connected system, where winger movements can create space for teammates.
This was clearly shown in the match against Bilbao. Gordon was repeatedly approached by 2 or 3 opposing players, but still found a way to escape and exploit the space behind the defense. Many dangerous attacks by Barcelona in the first half started from the left wing, where Gordon often created disruption before the ball was passed to Lamine Yamal.
The combination of Gordon, Raphinha and Yamal also brought Hansi Flick an energetic attacking trio. Gordon not only actively operated when he had the ball but also put pressure from the beginning of the match. In just the first 2 minutes, he twice caused Bilbao to lose the ball thanks to his pressing ability.
Another noteworthy point lies in the way Gordon handled situations that could give him opportunities. In the match against Elche, he once had a chance to score but chose to pass to Fermin Lopez to finish. Against Bilbao, Gordon continued to prioritize teammates after breaking into the penalty area. This time, he was fouled but the referee did not award Barcelona a penalty.
Gordon was substituted in the 80th minute in enthusiastic applause. Not long after that, Karim Adeyemi, another new player, assisted Barcelona to score the second goal. This detail partly shows that the competition in the attack of the Catalan team will be very fierce.
However, Gordon still has points to improve. Emotions were once a problem that caused him trouble at Newcastle. Unnecessary red cards in matches against Liverpool and Brighton are a reminder of this player's hot temper. Against Bilbao, he also argued with the referee and was lucky not to receive a yellow card after a strong tackle on Yeray Alvarez.
However, those limitations cannot overshadow Gordon's positive start. Barcelona spent 70 million pounds to bring him to Camp Nou and this figure puts a lot of pressure. Before the 2026 World Cup, there were opinions that Barcelona should choose Marcus Rashford with a lower fee.
However, the increasingly expensive price of wingers makes the amount of money Barca spends on Gordon more acceptable. More importantly, the first performances show that he has many qualities suitable for Barcelona's requirements.
