Deco explains why Barcelona chose Gordon over Rashford as derby looms for United

Barcelona sporting director Deco has explained why the Catalan club chose to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United instead of making Marcus Rashford’s loan deal permanent, with the England forward now back at Manchester United as Michael Carrick’s side prepare to host Manchester City on Sunday.

Rashford spent last season on loan at the Nou Camp, contributing goals and assists, but Barcelona declined their option to sign him permanently. Deco told Marca that the club’s priority was addressing the energy drop they experienced when Raphinha was absent, and that Gordon was the profile that best fitted their needs.

“One of the things we saw that was difficult last year was the fact that, when we were without Raphinha, the team’s energy seemed to drop,” Deco said. “We looked at many wingers, but signing players in the Premier League is almost impossible, you see the figures involved. He was the profile that best fit. The great advantage is that the players are excited to come to our project.”

The decision leaves Rashford available to Carrick for Sunday’s derby, a fixture United will approach having taken only four points from their opening three Premier League matches. Their form in Europe has been considerably brighter, with a 4-0 victory over Sabah in the Champions League providing a timely confidence boost.

United did show attacking intent in their last home league outing, netting five times against Ipswich Town, but City arrive at Old Trafford sitting top of the Premier League table and will represent a far sterner test. Carrick can draw on the memory of a 2-0 win over City in January — a result that helped earn him the permanent manager’s role — though that victory came against Pep Guardiola, who has since been replaced by Enzo Maresca.

On the academy front, United coach Adam Lawrence offered an update on 15-year-old JJ Gabriel after the teenager scored a hat-trick for the club’s youth side against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League. Gabriel is yet to make a competitive first-team appearance but Lawrence indicated the club is carefully managing his development.

“JJ is surrounded by people that really believe in him — from the top of the club right the way through,” Lawrence said. “At the moment, just in terms of his game, his games programme, his training programme, making sure that he’s getting the right exposure across different levels. It’s good to see him just enjoying his football and in a good place for sure.”

Sunday’s derby kicks off with City potentially having already been displaced from the top spot if Arsenal pick up a result against Sunderland on Saturday evening.