Gordon a better fit for Barca than Rashford - Deco

What the report says

Barcelona sporting director Deco has said Anthony Gordon was a better tactical match for Hansi Flick’s team than Marcus Rashford as the club reshaped its squad during the summer transfer window. The comments, reported by BBC Sport Football, came after Barcelona chose not to take up the option to sign Rashford permanently following his season-long loan from Manchester United.

Rashford had scored 14 times in all competitions during his loan spell, helping Barcelona to La Liga and Copa del Rey success. The club could have kept the England forward for a reported fee of £30.3m, but he returned to Old Trafford instead. Barcelona then moved for Gordon, signing the Newcastle United winger in a deal reported to be worth more than €80m, alongside Manchester City midfielder Rodri as two of their biggest additions.

Deco said Barcelona appreciated Rashford’s contribution, but argued that Gordon’s intensity and style fit the coach’s plan more closely. He also linked the move to a problem the club had identified last season, saying the side lost energy when Raphinha was unavailable. Gordon was one of several wingers the club studied before settling on him, with Deco saying the player’s willingness to push for the move also helped.

The report says Gordon has started brightly, with five appearances and four assists, while Barcelona have won all four of their league matches so far. More broadly, the remarks underline how clubs can weigh not just output, but tactical fit and squad balance, when deciding on major signings.