Anthony Gordon believes Barcelona move has earned him greater respect

Anthony Gordon believes his summer move to Barcelona has changed how people view him as a footballer and earned greater recognition for the technical side of his game.

The England international left Newcastle United in May after Barcelona agreed a package worth around £69.3 million.

Gordon signed a five-year contract with the Spanish champions after they moved ahead of Bayern Munich and other interested clubs to secure his services.

The 25-year-old has now reflected on how joining one of Europe’s biggest clubs has affected perceptions of his ability during an interview with ITV Football.

Gordon suggested some of his qualities were overlooked during his time in the Premier League, where his pace, intensity and willingness to run at defenders were often among his most recognised attributes.

However, the former Everton forward feels playing for Barcelona has led people to pay closer attention to the other elements of his game.

“I think people respect my game a little bit more now,” Gordon told ITV. “I think when you play for Barcelona, people automatically think you have to be technically good, you have to be tactically smart.

“I feel like maybe before, people just thought I was fast and worked hard.”

The move has required Gordon to adjust to a considerably different footballing environment after previously spending his entire senior career in England.

Barcelona’s possession-heavy approach places significant tactical and technical demands on their attacking players, something Gordon has previously acknowledged since arriving in Catalonia.

He recently explained that players who are not tactically intelligent can quickly become exposed within Barcelona’s system because of the level of understanding required.

Gordon has also spoken positively about working alongside players such as Lamine Yamal and experiencing Spanish football at close quarters.

His start has not been measured purely by goals, with Barcelona manager Hansi Flick publicly backing the winger despite his wait for his first competitive goal for the club.

Flick has instead highlighted Gordon’s contribution to the team’s pressing and attacking structure, areas which were important to Barcelona’s decision to recruit him.

The England forward’s speed and directness offer a different profile within a technically gifted Barcelona attack, while his work without the ball fits Flick’s aggressive pressing style.

Gordon’s move also followed a productive spell at Newcastle, where he developed into an England international and established himself as one of the Premier League’s prominent wide players.

He is now attempting to demonstrate that his game extends beyond the qualities most commonly associated with him in England.