Spanish media question Barcelona's £69m Gordon signing as Rashford outshines him at World Cup

Spanish media are openly questioning whether Barcelona made the right call in signing Anthony Gordon for £69.3m from Newcastle United, after Marcus Rashford — who spent last season on loan at the Catalan club and contributed to their La Liga title — outperformed him during England’s World Cup group stage.

Gordon started England’s opener against Croatia but was ineffective, while Rashford came off the bench to score the match-sealing fourth goal. Thomas Tuchel kept faith with Gordon for the subsequent draw with Ghana, yet he again struggled to make an impact and was dropped entirely for the group finale against Panama, with Rashford taking his place in the starting line-up. Gordon did not speak to the media after that match.

Spanish publication ABC was particularly scathing, writing that Gordon “ran down the corridor of the mixed zone with the press faster than his attacks on the wing in this World Cup matches.” The same outlet suggested that Barcelona supporters would be “watching with concern what is happening on England’s left wing” and questioned why the club had “paid a fortune” for Gordon — citing the club’s financial struggles — when Rashford was available for a significantly lower fee.

ABC also highlighted the “immense pressure” Gordon faces, pointing to “the weight of his transfer fee, the challenge of joining a European giant, the scrutiny of the global stage, and constant comparisons” to Lamine Yamal on the opposite flank. “Being measured against one of the world’s best is arguably unfair,” the report acknowledged. “Yet, it is to be expected when a club has just staked 80 million euros on you.”

Other Spanish outlets were equally critical earlier in the tournament. El Periodico described Gordon as “virtually invisible” in the Croatia match, while La Vanguardia labelled him “subdued,” though both acknowledged his defensive work.

Rashford himself was not without fault against Panama — he received plenty of possession but failed to consistently threaten — and Tuchel may yet turn to Eberechi Eze or Morgan Rogers on the left side for England’s next fixture. For Barcelona, however, the early evidence from the World Cup has only sharpened the debate around a transfer that was already scrutinised given the club’s financial constraints.