There was a major decision behind Barcelona’s summer transfer plans that raised plenty of questions, especially after the club chose one Premier League winger over another. On the surface, the move may have looked surprising, but the reasoning inside the club was linked to a much bigger idea.
Barcelona had the opportunity to make Marcus Rashford’s loan move permanent, but instead decided to invest heavily in Anthony Gordon. Now, sporting director Deco has revealed why the club ultimately chose Gordon and explained exactly what Hansi Flick wanted from the signing.
Barcelona had an option to sign Rashford permanently from Manchester United for £26 million after the England international recorded 14 goals and 15 assists in all competitions during his loan spell. However, the Catalan club decided to go in a different direction and paid Newcastle £69 million for Gordon.
According to Deco, the decision was not simply about the financial side of the deal. Barcelona were extremely grateful to Rashford for what he contributed last season, but the club felt that Gordon’s style was more closely connected to the way they wanted to play.
Deco explained that Barcelona’s idea of football is more suited to Gordon’s characteristics and that his style fits what Hansi Flick is looking for. The club analyzed every training session and carefully assessed the team’s needs before reaching the final decision.
One of the main issues identified by Barcelona was the drop in energy the team experienced when Raphinha was unavailable last season. The club wanted to add more intensity to the squad, which became one of the key factors behind the decision to pursue Gordon.
Barcelona analyzed several wingers before settling on the Newcastle star, despite the difficulty of completing deals for Premier League players. Deco revealed that Flick was very clear about what he wanted, and the club eventually managed to reach an agreement with Newcastle.
The decision already appears to be paying off, with Gordon making an impressive start to life at Barcelona. The winger recorded five assists in his opening four La Liga appearances, while Barcelona supporters also chanted his name during the team’s 5-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano.
Deco also addressed Barcelona’s interest in Bernardo Silva, another player who was linked with the club before eventually joining Real Madrid. The Barcelona sporting director admitted that he likes Silva enormously and considers him one of the best players in his position.
However, Deco explained that Silva was ultimately not what Barcelona were looking for. Although the Portuguese midfielder wanted to join Barça, the move did not progress because the club had certain parameters, including considerations over playing time. Deco stressed that the coach decides who plays, while Silva had a different perception after regularly featuring for Manchester City.
Ultimately, Barcelona’s decision to choose Gordon over Rashford was based on the club’s sporting vision, Flick’s demands and the desire to bring greater intensity and energy to the team.