Anthony Gordon has left the Spanish media eating their words following his impressive displays at the World Cup.
Gordon made the move to the Nou Camp from Newcastle earlier this summer, with Barcelona opting to spend nearly £70m on the winger despite having a £26m option to buy loanee Marcus Rashford. The Manchester United forward had enjoyed a strong season at Barcelona, playing a key role in helping the Catalans secure the La Liga title.
The choice to spend so heavily on Gordon instead was met with considerable scepticism in Spain, particularly as both he and Rashford were competing for the same England left-wing berth.
Those doubts only deepened during the group stages of the World Cup, with Spanish outlets criticising the former Everton man for his limited influence in England's early games and questioning why Rashford wasn't afforded more playing time.
Gordon answers his doubters
However, Gordon answered his doubters emphatically in the knockouts. The 23-year-old was arguably England's standout performer alongside Jude Bellingham, with the Spanish press quickly revising its opinion.
SPORT has led the reassessment, pointing to Gordon's two assists against DR Congo, the penalty he won against Mexico, another assist against Norway and his goal that put the Three Lions ahead against Argentina as evidence of his quality at the highest level.
SPORT said: "His speed, ability to unbalance defences, and knack for appearing in crucial moments allowed him to finish the tournament as one of the World Cup's biggest revelations."
Barcelona decision reinforced
The publication went further, suggesting his performances had "reinforced" Barcelona's decision to choose him over Rashford, and hailing him as "one of the most sought-after wingers in Europe."
It is a remarkable turnaround for a player whom many in Spain had written off just weeks earlier. Meanwhile, Rashford faces an uncertain future, with Man United keen to get him off the wage bill.
Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal have all been linked with a move, but the Red Devils are reluctant to sell to a fellow Premier League club. A release clause that would have allowed rival clubs to sign him for £40m has now lapsed, with clubs unwilling to cough up beyond what Barcelona would have been required to pay.
Newcastle links played down
Newcastle have been loosely linked with Rashford but would need to break their wage structure to match his current £325,000-per-week wages. Former United winger Chris Waddle has urged the Magpies to steer clear of the 28-year-old, telling OLBG: "I think Marcus Rashford would be out of Newcastle's price bracket with his big wage demands."
"He hasn't performed well at the World Cup and has always been an inconsistent footballer. We know he is a good player, but he's always been inconsistent."
