Barcelona sporting director, Deco has explained the thinking behind the club’s decision to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United this summer rather than make Marcus Rashford’s loan move from Manchester United permanent, insisting the choice came down to tactical fit rather than any lack of appreciation for the England forward’s contribution last season.

Speaking to RAC1 on Thursday, Deco said Barcelona remained deeply grateful for what Rashford brought to the team during his loan spell, in which he scored 14 goals and played a key role as the club won both the La Liga title and the Spanish Supercopa.

However, he explained that the club ultimately felt Gordon’s style of play aligned more closely with what head coach Hansi Flick wanted from his wide forwards, which led them to pass up their 30 million euro option to sign Rashford outright in favour of a much bigger €70 million move for the Newcastle winger.

Deco elaborated further on the reasoning, pointing to a dip in energy and intensity that the team experienced last season whenever Raphinha was unavailable. He said the club analysed the situation closely through training sessions and matches, concluding that they needed a wide player who could inject more intensity into the side.

According to him, Barcelona considered several wingers before settling on Gordon, adding that signing directly from the Premier League is rarely straightforward, but that Flick was clear about the profile he wanted and the club built their move around that.

On why a permanent Rashford deal did not happen despite his strong season in Catalonia, Deco explained that the decision was not purely financial but also tied to playing time and the coach’s assessment of what the team required going forward, noting that such calls on team selection ultimately rest with Flick rather than the club’s sporting department.

Gordon has settled quickly into life at Camp Nou since his arrival, registering five assists in his opening five appearances for the club and drawing strong support from Barcelona fans, who have been heard chanting his name during recent matches, including a comprehensive win over Rayo Vallecano. Rashford, meanwhile, has returned to Manchester United following the end of his loan spell after Barcelona opted not to trigger their option to sign him permanently.

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