Barcelona sporting director Deco has outlined the tactical reasoning behind the club’s decision not to sign Marcus Rashford on a permanent basis, opting instead to secure Anthony Gordon from Newcastle. Rashford joined Barcelona on a season-long loan with an option to buy set at £30.3 million after the Spanish champions were initially snubbed in their attempt to lure Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams. Despite scoring 14 goals, recording 15 direct goal contributions, and helping the team capture both the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey, the 28-year-old forward wasn’t retained. Instead, Barcelona committed a £69.3 million fee to bring in Gordon on a contract running until 2031, following a campaign where Gordon finished as Newcastle’s top scorer with 17 goals.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, Deco expressed deep gratitude for Rashford’s contributions while emphasizing the specific tactical profile manager Hansi Flick required. Deco noted that while Rashford brought value during his spell, the team’s overarching strategy aligns much more closely with Gordon’s style of play. Within the Barcelona boardroom, figures remained unconvinced about finalizing a permanent deal for Rashford, pointing out that he wasn’t the type of player who presses relentlessly off the ball. Barcelona specifically sought an injection of high-intensity energy for moments when former Leeds winger Raphinha was absent from the pitch. Deco confirmed that Gordon emerged as the ideal solution, with the English winger actively pressing his former club to facilitate the move.
Gordon has settled quickly into life in Catalonia, delivering four assists across his opening five appearances while Barcelona won all four of their early La Liga fixtures. Reflecting on his transition, Gordon highlighted the privilege of playing alongside top talent like Lamine Yamal, recalling how difficult it was to touch the ball when playing against Barcelona at St James’ Park. Meanwhile, Rashford has continued to feature when Flick rotates his squad. Stepping in while Yamal was out injured for a second straight match, Rashford produced a spectacular performance by scoring a brace in a 2-1 Champions League victory at Newcastle, drawing praise from defender Ronald Araújo.
Rashford’s move to Barcelona originally came after a fallout with Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim led to his departure. However, his time in Spain hasn’t been completely free of discipline issues. Rashford recently broke a strict team rule by arriving late to a meeting, drawing criticism from Troy Deeney regarding self-sabotage. The infraction mirrored an incident at Manchester United in early 2024 when he was dropped for an FA Cup tie against Newport County. Additionally, Raphinha’s return to full fitness has restricted Rashford’s starting opportunities, following an initial stretch in Spain where he was substituted at halftime in one of his early starts after failing to find the net in his first four league outings.
As Barcelona refine their roster, their transfer strategy has also crossed paths with Manchester United regarding 20-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. With Gavi sidelined due to a knee injury, Barcelona president Joan Laporta is keen on bringing Mainoo to Camp Nou, valuing the youngster’s physicality and composure in tight spaces. With Amorim determining that Mainoo doesn’t suit his tactical setup at Old Trafford, United have opened the door for a January exit. While Barcelona remain interested, Real Madrid currently sit in the driving seat for the midfielder, alongside serious interest from Serie A clubs such as Napoli.
