Anthony Gordon has admitted he thinks Eddie Howe was left surprised by how good he actually was when he joined Newcastle United from Everton.
The Barcelona winger had to convince the former Newcastle manager on his talents.
The winger became Barcelona’s most expensive summer signing this year when he joined from Newcastle United in an €80m deal.
It brought an end to a three-year stay at St James Park in which he managed 39 goals and 28 assists in 152 games and won the Carabao Cup. He also established himself as an England regular after making his debut in 2024.
Big leap to being a Barcelona star
Anthony Gordon is already impressing at the Camp Nou, with five assists in his first five games. And he thinks that has surprised some people, as it did when he arrived at Newcastle United. As far as he’s concerned, Eddie Howe didn’t know how good he actually was at that point.
“The thing with my style is that, because I press, people focus heavily on that,” he said for an interview in today’s edition of El Pais.
“I think my actual quality surprises a lot of people when they see me up close. That happened at Newcastle. Eddie Howe signed me from Everton to run and press. And then, when I got there, it was like: “Oh, you’re actually a good player.”
“I feel like my footballing intelligence is my most underrated attribute. and I think that’s why I can play for Barcelona. Because if you aren’t intelligent in this team, you’re lost. You have to make good decisions all the time, or you’ll come off looking bad and I think that’s why I can play for Barcelona.
“Because if you aren’t intelligent in this team, you’re lost. You have to make good decisions all the time, or you’ll come off looking bad.”
Assists over goals
Gordon believes that intelligence shows itself in his willingness to create assists, rather than get goals for himself. That’s already been seen in his time in Catalunya.
“Intelligence is making the right decision more often than not,” he added.
“Maybe I should shoot at goal more or be a little less generous, but that’s not in my nature. Making the right decision makes me feel good.”
He’s not the only one dishing out surprises though. Now he’s behind the curtain at Barcelona, he’s happy to admit that Lamine Yamal has surprised him.
“A lot, but because of his mentality,” he said when asked if the youngster had surprised him.
“I expected him to be good and talented, but I didn’t expect that attitude; usually, a player that young and talented slacks off on defence, but he presses just as hard as Rafa and I do. And he never misses a gym session.”
Gordon differs from many footballers
When Anthony Gordon arrived at Barcelona from Newcastle United, he surprised and impressed many with his ability to speak Spanish. The England international even managed a few words of Catalan, which made him a favourite immediately.
Asked if it’s true that he plans to start a book club, the 25-year-old said: “I’d like to, but I haven’t tried. The guys are too young, they wouldn’t do it. I know that a footballer who reads is unusual. But I think I’m a very old soul, you know? Like I belong to the past.
“I belong to another era. I think my personality fits more with the ’90s. Now everyone is obsessed with social media, everything is materialistic, romance hardly exists. I’m not like that, I prefer the past.
“Since social media arrived, around 2010, I think the world has gone downhill. People focus on things that don’t matter.”
