Former Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon hadn’t played for eight weeks.
Gordon was an unused substitute in the Magpies’ final four Premier League matches of the season in preparation for his exit.
The 25-year-old was widely expected to join Bayern Munich but ended up heading to Barcelona in a deal worth £69million.
Anthony Gordon discusses lack of playing time
Gordon hadn’t played a competitive match since April 12 until coming on as a half-time substitute in England’s 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand at a baking hot Tampa Bay stadium on Saturday night.
“It was tough, cant lie to you,” Gordon told ITV. “I’d love to give you an easy answer but it was really difficult. Thoroughly enjoyed it, it was a good test. It’s good to be back with the team and just getting back in that rhythm and chemistry with the players - but it was hot.
“It’s difficult for a player. I think if you have one or two days off, it’s really hard to get back into the swing of things, so to have four, five or six weeks off, I done better than I thought, to be honest.
“It was a good decision to give everyone that platform to boost their fitness up, get used to the heat and get used to the pitches because as much as it’s hot, the pitches make a big difference.”
Anthony Gordon thanks Newcastle United following Barcelona transfer
Despite needing to build his fitness ahead of the World Cup, Gordon admits he is “really grateful” to have his future sorted after being hugely affected by his failed move to Liverpool during Euro 2024.
A deal had been lined up for Gordon to join his boyhood club as the Magpies battled to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), however they ended up selling Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion, respectively, instead.
“It’s an unbelievable scenario,” Gordon said. “I must thank Newcastle and Barcelona because they were both unbelievable with me. Both worked on my behalf and really looked after me through the process to get it done.
“You were at the Euros last time with me and I was going through the other transfer stuff, it was really difficult and I couldn’t really shake it, so I must thank both clubs. I’m really grateful that’s done.”
Gordon added: “Yeah, it feels good. It’s not bad! Really happy, it’s been an amazing couple of weeks. To be a Barcelona player was the dream as a little kid, so now I’ve got to go on and win everything with them.
“It came from quite late but once I knew it was Barcelona, they are the biggest club on the planet in my opinion, so there was never any doubt in my mind.”
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