Barcelona's Tactical Shift: Why Gordon Was Chosen Over Rashford
Barcelona sporting director Deco has drawn a clear tactical line between the club’s past and its present, explaining why Anthony Gordon was chosen to spearhead Hansi Flick’s project instead of keeping Marcus Rashford.
Rashford left his mark in Catalonia last season. On loan from Manchester United, the forward scored 14 goals in all competitions and helped Barcelona win both La Liga and the Copa del Rey. The deal included a permanent option: for £30.3m (35m euros), Barça could have signed the 28-year-old outright this summer.
They walked away.
Rashford returned to Old Trafford as Barcelona turned to a different profile. In came Gordon from Newcastle United and Rodri from Manchester City, the club’s two most expensive signings of the window, both recruited to patch what Deco called important weaknesses in the squad.
Gordon’s move was the headline. Barcelona paid more than 80m euros (£69.3m) for the England international, who has long spoken of his belief that he would one day wear the Barça shirt, saying he felt that way “since he was three years of age.”
Speaking to Catalan radio station RAC1 on Thursday, Deco made a point of saluting Rashford’s impact before underlining why the club chose a different route.
“We are extremely grateful to Rashford,” Deco said. “He contributed a lot last season, but our idea of play is much more linked to Anthony’s. His style fits with what the coach is looking for.”
That idea of play has become central under Flick. Deco revealed that last season exposed a specific flaw: when Raphinha was missing, Barcelona sagged.
“In the case of Gordon, we saw that he was one of the figures we needed,” he explained. “When Raphinha wasn’t on the pitch, the team lost energy and with him we could solve it. The big advantage we had is that the player wanted to come and he was able to put on pressure [at Newcastle to be allowed to leave].”
The recruitment was not a snap decision. Deco described a long process in which Barcelona trawled through options out wide before landing on Gordon as the answer.
“We had a clear idea what we’re looking for,” he said. “We needed more intensity. We analysed a lot of wingers. Signing someone from the Premier League is almost impossible, but [Flick] was clear with what he wanted and we worked on a deal from there.”
Early signs suggest the fit is real. Gordon has made five appearances for Barcelona and already delivered four assists, injecting exactly the drive and urgency Deco claimed the squad lacked.
The team around him has started fast as well. Barcelona have won all four of their La Liga games so far, scoring 17 goals and conceding just two, a start that hints at a side reshaped in Flick’s image — and built around the kind of winger Deco was adamant they needed.
