Former Newcastle United star Anthony Gordon has made an impressive start to life at Barcelona having settled in well to life at the La Liga champions
Anthony Gordon during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano.
Anthony Gordon has received plenty of praise since his move to Barcelona(Image: David Ramos/Getty Images)
Anthony Gordon has reportedly been told by Barcelona teammates that fan chants in support of him are not normal at the Camp Nou. Former Newcastle United forward Gordon has enjoyed an impressive start to life at the Catalan capital.
The England international joined Barca in a £69million deal from the Magpies earlier this summer. The 25-year-old made his competitive debut for Hansi Flick's side in August against Elche and impressed in a 5-2 win.
Gordon registered two assists for the La Liga champions with three more across games against Rayo Vallecano and Valencia. The winger has quickly become a fan favourite - helping his team win all four of their league games so far this season.
And The Athletic claim that Barca players and backroom staff have been impressed with the warm welcome he has received. Supporters were chanting his name during the 2-0 win on August 27.
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Multiple teammates reportedly went to Gordon and mentioned the chants, making it clear to him that this is not normal.
A first-team source is reported to have said: “Certainly the most impressive thing is how clever he is.
"As a player, he knows what he can do, what are his strengths and how he can help the manager and the team. He is selfless and reads the game."
Anthony Gordon applauds
Anthony Gordon has impressed in a Barcelona shirt(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Gordon appears to have settled in well and it is claimed via sources close to the Englishman that research had been done beforehand to make a good impression.
It is said that he knew the importance of learning Catalan and started learning Spanish thanks to Daniel Martin, a Madrid-born physiotherapist who has worked at Newcastle for the past 10 years.
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And he is now reportedly dipping into informal chats and slang with his teammates, while taking Spanish and Catalan classes twice a week. The report adds, via a source, that Gordon did not join just to make the numbers, showing his ambition.
Gordon appears to also be gathering a cult following with it claimed that a photo of him wearing sunglasses, mocked-up as if he was holding the Ballon d’Or can be seen at a local pub. On his head was a ‘barretina’ — a traditional Catalan hat. Circling Gordon, the inscription: “Antoni Gros es Catala.”
The word ‘gordo’ in Spanish means fat, which brought Barca fans to attempt a funny translation of his surname from Gordon to Gros. Translated into English, the wording on the flag reads ‘Anthony the big one is a Catalan’.