On Friday night, Anthony Gordon became Barcelona’s sixth most expensive signing ever after spending the majority of the day in a hotel until bureaucratic issues were resolved.
The 25-year-old England winger stated that he had wanted to play for the team since he was three years old and that he learned of Barcelona’s interest in him “very late in the season.”
Reporters here were similarly taken aback by Gordon’s lengthy responses in Spanish.
He stated in the native tongue, “I’m ready, excited, and prepared for the challenge,” adding that he wanted to respond to all inquiries in Spanish the next time he appeared before media.
He responded, “There is a physio at Newcastle who is Spanish and I told him I wanted to play for Barcelona so I practised Spanish with him,” when asked how he had become fluent in the language.
Gordon’s official introduction was eight hours behind schedule due to the bureaucratic hold-up.
Anthony Gordon paid £69.3 million plus an additional £8.7 million to join Barcelona.
Supporters of the Catalan club were taken aback by his quick signing; the unusual delay in confirmation due to “paperwork problems” served as a reminder of Barcelona’s recent history as a financial mess.
The press was informed that Gordon would be arriving three hours late for a presentation that had been scheduled for 1pm in a small press conference room next to the club shop at the Camp Nou, a stadium that still partially resembled a construction site and would not be finished until the end of next season.
Barcelona maintained that their recent history of financial instability had nothing to do with the delay, which ultimately lasted until 9 p.m.
For the better part of the previous five years, the team that purchased the winger from Newcastle has been caught in a self-inflicted financial tempest. As a result, Lionel Messi had to leave in the summer of 2021 because they could no longer afford to pay his salary.
Reporters who were waiting were informed, “The deal is still on.” While Barcelona president Joan Laporta, vice president Rafa Yuste, and director of football Deco attempted to finalize the deal, Gordon had to wait patiently in the five-star Torre Melina Gran Melia hotel on the renowned Avenida Diagonal, only ten minutes away by vehicle from the stadium.
Gordon continued, “It’s a dream come true.” Thank you, I’m a member of the world’s greatest team.
“I’ve always desired Barcelona.” It’s the world’s largest club. It’s what I used to dream of as a kid. It truly is a dream come true.
Regarding his day spent waiting in the hotel, he remarked, “I’ve been very calm at the hotel, just waiting with my family, with my agents, but it was kind of hard to wait because I was so excited.” The delay is beyond my comprehension. It’s stuff I don’t comprehend, so I’m not sure. I completed my portion. Since I’ve been prepared for the past two days, I believe it involved legal matters and minute minutiae.
The former winger for Newcastle claimed that since he was a young boy, he had always wanted to play for them.
Gordon signs for £69.3 million and further £8.7 million. The fee, which will be divided over the course of his five-year contract, will enable Barcelona to register with La Liga for just £15.6 million for the upcoming season. This is significant because Spanish league executives will allow Barcelona to register the forward, who is a member of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup in North America.
Gordon’s £200,000 weekly compensation will be less than Robert Lewandowski’s £400,000 weekly income during the last year of his recently ended contract.
It’s how the team was able to recruit Gordon in spite of the restrictions that kept their summer spending to just £23 million.
Next month, La Liga is anticipated to notify Barcelona that the financial limitations imposed on them over the previous few years have been fully removed. The club has been waiting for this news, and if Manchester United agrees to lower their asking price, they may be able to retain Gordon’s England teammate Marcus Rashford.
However, they will still have to sell, and Newcastle may be able to assist them in doing so. Abde Ezzalzouli, a winger for Real Betis and a 24-year-old Morocco international who is still 20% owned by Barcelona, is one of the favorites to succeed Gordon at St. James’ Park. Barcelona would get £10 million from the agreement if Newcastle paid his £52 million release clause.
Additionally, the team is on the verge of selling Brighton forward Ansu Fati to Monaco for £10 million.
Rashford, a loanee from Manchester United, has contributed 14 goals and 14 assists this season. The Spanish team has the option to extend his contract for £22.5 million this summer.
However, as Rashford is still under contract at Old Trafford until 2028, they intend to offer slightly more than half of that in the hopes that Manchester United’s desire to remove Rashford’s £325,000 salary from their wage bill will compel them to accept. Rashford won’t play for Barcelona in the upcoming season if United demands the entire amount.
Marcus Rashford is also a target for Barcelona, but they must increase sales.
Rashford’s top goal is to stay in the Champions League, which might reopen the door for Aston Villa if Barcelona decides not to sign him.
Hansi Flick, the coach of Barcelona, wants Rashford to remain. Gordon’s acquisition by the team was also motivated by the German, who has won La Liga in both of his seasons at the Camp Nou.
Gordon responded, “I was even more excited about joining the club after I spoke to him,” when asked about Flick.
After being eliminated in the quarterfinals this season, Barca is looking to end an 11-year wait for a sixth Champions League trophy, and the former Everton winger possesses the passion and work-rate Flick needs for next season.
If Raphinha, a 29-year-old former Leeds winger, stays, Gordon will face off against him. He may receive an offer from the Saudi Pro League after a season marred by injuries.
A center forward is also being sought after by the team. Deco has previously spoken with Joao Pedro’s agent at Chelsea; if they are unable to sign Julian Alvarez, an Arsenal target from Atletico Madrid, the Brazilian is their backup.
Bernardo Silva, a Portuguese midfielder who left Manchester City, is also on the verge of joining Barcelona on a free transfer.
