Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Barcelona are about to sign Newcastle's Anthony Gordon for an €80m transfer package, which has now led to huge comparisons of the player vs Marcus Rashford, who now looks unlikely to join Barcelona from Manchester City permanently. Barcelona’s move for Anthony Gordon has raised plenty of questions, especially after Marcus Rashford impressed during his loan spell at Camp Nou. With Rashford already familiar with Hansi Flick’s system and available through a permanent purchase option at a much cheaper price, many expected Barcelona to prioritize keeping the Manchester United forward. Instead, the Catalan giants now appear to be completing a deal for Gordon.
So why are Barcelona leaning toward Gordon, and what does it mean for Rashford’s future?
Rashford vs Gordon: Comparing the Numbers
Marcus Rashford enjoyed a productive loan season at Barcelona, recording strong goal contributions while rediscovering confidence after difficult years at Manchester United. The Man Utd loanee produced 14 goals and 14 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions.
Anthony Gordon, meanwhile, has been one of Newcastle United’s most consistent attacking players. He scored 17 goals and provided 5 assists in 46 appearances this season. The English winger has been one of Newcastle's better players this season
Although Rashford beats Gordon by a huge distance purely from numbers perspective, we must not forget the fact that he has been playing for a magnificent Barca side against weaker opposition in La Liga, in contrast to Gordon who plays against considerably stronger opposition in the Premier League. The fact Eddie Howe's Newcastle have had a disastrous season and Gordon still put up those numbers is impressive as well. We must also consider the fact that the modern winger in football is required to do a lot of defensive work, and this is an aspect where Gordon is quite superior to Rashford, who has been widely criticised in the past for not tracking back. Working under Hansi Flick may also further improve the defensive side of Gordon’s game. Overall, both players have had a decent individual season, although collectively Rashford and Barcelona were the only successful ones.
Age and contract: 2 Major reasons Barcelona may have chosen to sign Anthony Gordon and why they may decide against signing Marcus Rashford
Barcelona’s reported decision to prioritize Anthony Gordon over Marcus Rashford appears to be heavily influenced by two major factors, age profile and financial structure.
At just 25 years old, Gordon is entering the peak years of his career and is widely viewed as a player with massive long-term potential. Rashford, meanwhile, is already 28 and will turn 29 in the coming months. While the Manchester United forward remains a proven attacker with elite-level experience, Barcelona may feel Gordon offers far greater longevity and resale value as part of Hansi Flick’s long-term project.
The financial aspect is equally important. Rashford’s reported transfer fee would likely be significantly cheaper than Gordon’s estimated €80 million package. However, Barcelona’s concerns reportedly revolve around salary demands rather than transfer cost alone. Rashford remains one of the highest earners at Manchester United with a salary of around £325,000 per week, and Barca committing to his massive wages by signing him permanently could create additional financial pressure for a Barcelona side still dealing with strict La Liga financial regulations.
Gordon, despite the huge transfer fee involved, would reportedly demand considerably lower wages. That makes the Newcastle United winger a more sustainable long-term investment from both a sporting and financial perspective.
Ultimately, Barcelona may see Gordon as a player capable of growing with the project for years, while Rashford represents a shorter-term and financially riskier solution despite his proven quality.
Final Verdict
Marcus Rashford may possess the higher ceiling as an individual match-winner, but Barcelona’s pursuit of Anthony Gordon appears driven by tactical balance, age profile, defensive intensity, and long-term squad planning.
For Hansi Flick, Gordon likely represents a more reliable system player, one capable of fitting seamlessly into Barcelona’s high-energy approach for years to come.
Although Gordon joining Barcelona from Newcastle doesn't mean it's impossible for Barcelona to still sign Rashford from Man Utd, it does look highly unlikely now.
