Why are Barcelona signing Gordon from Newcastle?

Anthony Gordon sat in the Nou Camp tunnel as Newcastle prepared to face Barcelona in the Champions League knockout tie in March. He later returned to the same stadium to be unveiled as a Barcelona player after completing a 69.3m transfer. His time at Newcastle is described as the best three and a half years of his life, with gratitude for coaching staff and teammates. Former Newcastle teammate Matt Ritchie attributes Gordon’s rise to work ethic, application, laser focus, and a controlled edge on the pitch. Barcelona pursued Gordon for his versatility across the left and through the middle, preferring him over a potential permanent deal for Marcus Rashford due to age and wage considerations.

"As club anthem 'Cant del Barca' rang out, the Newcastle United forward was sat on the steps in the Nou Camp tunnel, taking it all in. It was just a few minutes before Newcastle faced Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League knockout tie back in March. Stages do not come much bigger than this one. Few could have imagined Gordon would be returning to this very stadium to be unveiled as a Barcelona player just a couple of months later, even if he always looked likely to depart."

"Gordon is understood to have viewed his spell at Newcastle as the best three and-a-half years of his life. He is immensely grateful for what the club's coaching staff and his team-mates have done for him. However, the England forward has never disguised his ambition to get to the "very top" as he arrives in Barcelona to undergo a medical and complete his 69.3m move."

""It's his work ethic and application," he said. "He's laser-focused on being the best he can be. "Working with Eddie [Howe] and all the coaches in Newcastle, he couldn't have fallen into better hands in that regard. "Knowing Ant how I know him, he dreams big, he thinks big and you can see with his personality on the pitch. "He became a team player but will always have that edge and controlled arrogance, which all these top players have, so I'm not surprised he's moving on to a club with the stature of Barcelona.""

"So why have Barca moved for Gordon? After all, the La Liga champions also had the option - and still do - of making Marcus Rashford's loan move from Manchester United a permanent one for 26m. However, Barca have so far prioritised a move for his international team-mate, who also offers versatility on the left and through the middle, but is three years younger and on a lower wage."

Read at www.bbc.com