Barcelona sporting director Deco has explained why the club opted to sign Anthony Gordon rather than take up their option to make Marcus Rashford's loan move permanent, saying Gordon's style of play aligns more closely with what head coach Hansi Flick wants from his side.
Rashford enjoyed a productive season on loan at Barcelona, contributing 25 goals and assists combined across 49 appearances as the club won LaLiga. Despite that, Barcelona chose not to trigger their purchase option, instead spending big to bring in Gordon from Newcastle United in a deal worth an initial €70 million plus potential add-ons.
Speaking to Catalan radio station RAC1, Deco praised Rashford's contribution but made clear the decision came down to tactical fit rather than performance. He said the club remained extremely grateful to Rashford for what he offered last season, but explained that Barcelona's idea of how they want to play is much more closely linked to Gordon's approach, adding that his style suits what Flick is looking for.
Deco pointed to a specific weakness Barcelona identified in their play last season, saying the team's energy levels dropped whenever Raphinha was unavailable. That gap led the club to look closely at a number of wingers before eventually deciding on Gordon, with Deco noting that pulling off a signing from the Premier League isn't easy, but that Flick had been clear about what profile he wanted, allowing the club to build a deal around that vision.
Gordon has made a fast start since arriving at Camp Nou, already registering four assists in his opening matches, form that appears to be validating Barcelona's decision so far. Deco also touched on personal factors in Rashford's situation, suggesting the England forward had wanted to return to Barcelona but that certain financial and playing-time parameters meant a permanent deal never came together, while stressing that any decision on minutes ultimately rests with the coaching staff rather than the sporting director's office.
Gordon's arrival formed part of a busy summer of recruitment at Barcelona, which also included the signings of Rodri, João Cancelo, Karim Adeyemi, Gabriel Jesus and Dominik Livaković, while a proposed deal for Bernardo Silva collapsed, with the Portugal international instead joining rivals Real Madrid.
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