Anthony Gordon explains how Barcelona move changed the way England sees him: ‘Don’t think I was fully respected there’

Anthony Gordon explains how Barcelona move changed the way England sees him: ‘Don’t think I was fully respected there’ Anthony Gordon believes his move to Barcelona has altered the way he is viewed in England, with the winger insisting that his technical ability and football intelligence are now receiving greater recognition. Speaking to ITV (h/t SPORT ), the Barcelona forward reflected on the reputation he developed during his time in the Premier League.  Gordon feels his game was often reduced to his speed and intensity, despite believing there was considerably more to his football. “I think I’ve become a different player in the eyes of a lot of people because in England I always felt that I was respected for being fast and pressing, but they never really respected the quality and intelligence with which I play,” he said.   He added, “Only the players I played with seemed to realise that.” Gordon says Spain appreciates him more The England international was then asked whether the change in perception had come from moving to Spain , and his answer was emphatic. “I don’t think I was ever fully respected in England.  “People just see me as someone who’s very fast and very aggressive, whereas in Spain they really appreciate my intelligence and my quality.” Gordon explains how the Barcelona move has changed the perception around him. (Photo by Harriet Massey/Getty Images) Barcelona’s possession-based and high-octane football has given Gordon a different platform.  At Newcastle, his ability to press, carry the ball and attack at speed was often central to his role. However, at Barça , he believes there is nowhere to hide from the technical and tactical demands of the game. “At Barcelona, if you’re not skilful or intelligent, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb straight away.” Gordon believes that difference is helping fans in England see sides of his game that were previously overlooked. “I think they’re starting to do so. I still think there’s more to come, but they’re beginning to see it because they watch me play for Barcelona in a different style of football, where those qualities stand out more,” he said. He used his Newcastle spell to explain why his previous reputation became so closely linked to physical intensity. “I used to play for Newcastle, who were a very high-tempo side, so running and aggression were always on display.  “Now I play in a completely different style where my other qualities can be seen.” Gordon wanted the Barcelona challenge Barcelona paid €70 million for Gordon. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) The move was never only about leaving England behind.  Rather, Gordon wanted to test himself in another league and prove that he could perform at the highest level in a completely different footballing environment. When the interviewer suggested that players sometimes need to leave home before receiving greater appreciation, Gordon openly acknowledged that it influenced his decision. “Yes, and to be honest, that was exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to leave the Premier League, I wanted a different experience and that was exactly what I was after,” he admitted. Furthermore, the England and Barcelona winger reveals that he wanted to challenge the perception that he was primarily a pace-and-power winger. “I felt I had more to offer than people thought I did, and I wanted to prove it on the world’s biggest stage. Going abroad was very important to me.” It must be remembered that Barcelona backed that ambition with a €70 million deal, with a further €10 million available in variables. Gordon has also committed his future to the Catalan club until 2031.