Anthony Gordon says Barcelona move has changed how he is judged

Anthony Gordon believes his move from Newcastle to Barcelona has led to greater recognition of his technical and tactical abilities.

The 25-year-old England international says he was often viewed in England primarily as a player valued for his pace and pressing, rather than for his footballing intelligence.

“I think I’ve become a different player in a lot of people’s eyes,” Gordon told ITV.

“I always felt in England, people respected me because I was fast and I pressed but they never actually respected the quality and IQ that I play with.”

Gordon believes Barcelona’s possession-based approach has brought different elements of his game to the fore. At Newcastle, he feels his running and aggression were more noticeable than his ability with the ball or his understanding of the game.

“I think now I’m at Barcelona and I play a different style, those qualities are highlighted much more and people are actually starting to take notice that I’m not just quick,” he added.

The winger said the demands of playing for Barcelona mean technical quality and tactical awareness are particularly important, making those qualities easier to assess.

“In Spain, they really appreciate my IQ and quality because at Barca, if you’re not technical, if you’re not smart, you’re going to stand out like a sore thumb.”

Gordon said he had wanted to test himself outside England and prove that his game was not based solely on his physical attributes.

“I felt like I had more than what people thought of me and I wanted to show that on the world’s biggest stage,” he said.

His move away from the Premier League has therefore given him the opportunity to present a broader version of his abilities, with the Barcelona style placing greater emphasis on possession, technique and decision-making.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has continued to support Gordon despite the winger’s lack of goals. His pressing and his contribution to the structure of the team’s attacks are among the qualities valued by the club.

Gordon will now return to Barcelona after international duty as he looks to build on his progress in Spain. The club face a demanding October schedule, including matches against Galatasaray, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.