Anthony Gordon's potential move to Barcelona could spell bad news for Marcus Rashford, as the Newcastle winger prepares to join the La Liga champions in a £69.3 million plus add-ons deal. The 25-year-old England international is set to undergo a medical after a day of negotiations between the two clubs.
Gordon's Admiration for Rashford's Impact
Gordon came up against Barcelona earlier this season in the Champions League, where Newcastle suffered a 2-1 defeat at St James' Park. Rashford scored a nine-minute brace in the second half, while Gordon's stoppage-time consolation goal was not enough to earn a result. Speaking after the September game, Gordon told TNT Sports: "It's a top level. Rashford scored two goals out of nowhere. It's got to be the same for us and take the opportunities when they're presented to us."
Praise for Barcelona's Midfield
Gordon was wholly complimentary of Barcelona's quality, branding their midfield pairing of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong as the best he has played against in terms of controlling the tempo of a game. He added: "Pedri and de Jong were fantastic. They made it really difficult for us to do our usual press, and they controlled the game. They were the best I've played against in that sense of the game. To be honest, we are not used to playing against players who can keep the ball in this way. We played against top teams like City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, but the way they passed the ball in midfield made it very hard for us to press."
Impact on Rashford's Future
Gordon's arrival at Barcelona places doubt on whether Rashford will continue his career in Catalonia. The 28-year-old is currently on a season-long loan from Manchester United and is set to return this summer. Barcelona have the option to sign him for £26 million but have attempted to negotiate the fee down. Rashford has expressed his desire to stay in Spain, but hinted that remaining with Barcelona is not a foregone conclusion. Speaking after winning the league, he said: "This is the perfect way I want it to end. I'm very happy, I just want to enjoy today. I live in the moment. At the end of the season we will see. I came here to win and we do this so I'm very happy. It's an incredible feeling."
Gordon's Wage Increase
A move to Spain is expected to double Gordon's wage to around £300,000 per week as Barcelona look to strengthen their squad after winning the league for a second consecutive year. Both Gordon and Rashford are set to head to the World Cup together with England, and could potentially become teammates at Barcelona next season.
