Gordon's slow-walk substitution earns Flick's fury as Barcelona doubts grow

Anthony Gordon was visibly dressed down by Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick during Sunday’s 2-1 La Liga victory over Atlético Madrid, after the 25-year-old winger strolled off the pitch at a conspicuously leisurely pace when his number was called late in the second half.

Flick, rarely one to lose his composure on the touchline, gestured frantically and shouted at the former Newcastle United winger to leave the field. His frustration was not merely cosmetic. Under La Liga’s strict application of IFAB’s Law 3, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) requires substituted players to exit at the nearest point as quickly as possible, and Spanish officials have clamped down hard on time-wasting this season. A player who takes longer than ten seconds to leave the field also forces the incoming substitute to wait — a significant risk for a side trying to protect a one-goal lead against Atlético.

Gordon did not disguise his own irritation once he had eventually cleared the pitch, cutting a sullen figure on the Barcelona bench.

The touchline flashpoint has become something of a symbol for a difficult start to life in Spain. Initial excitement around his arrival has given way to growing scepticism among the club’s supporters. Catalan dailies Sport and Mundo Deportivo have both published critical assessments in recent weeks, openly questioning whether Gordon possesses the technical subtlety that Spanish football demands. The recurring charge in the local press is that the Englishman is overly reliant on straight-line pace and struggles to find solutions when opponents sit deep and deny him space in behind.

On social media, comparisons with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha — teammates who regularly create danger in tight pockets — have not flattered Gordon. Many supporters have questioned why the club invested heavily in a forward whose skill set appears to sit awkwardly alongside Barcelona’s possession-based approach.

For Newcastle fans, the episode carries a familiar sting. Gordon’s form visibly dipped during the final weeks of last season at St James’ Park after interest from abroad emerged, and his desire to leave ultimately shaped his exit. The suggestion from some quarters is that Newcastle, who recouped significant funds in the deal, may have sold at the right moment — and bought wisely with the proceeds.