Anthony Gordon’s dream blockbuster move to Barcelona is already under intense scrutiny before he even steps foot in Catalonia. Following a string of underwhelming performances for England at the World Cup, football pundit Graeme Souness has issued a blistering reality check, claiming the Spanish giants must be questioning their massive summer investment.
The 25-year-old winger recently finalized a stunning £70 million transfer from Newcastle United to Barcelona, joining an elite bracket of English talent testing themselves abroad. However, instead of riding a wave of momentum into the tournament, Gordon has struggled heavily under the global spotlight, leaving fans and pundits alike deeply concerned.
Souness Warns: “Playing Safe” Will Result in Barcelona Nightmare
The criticism reached a boiling point after England’s frustrating 0-0 stalemate against Ghana’s defensive low block. Gordon, tasked with providing the creative spark down the left flank, failed to make an impact. Writing in his column for the Telegraph, Souness pulled no punches regarding the winger’s tentative approach on the world stage.
”It is absolutely fair to say they will have watched their new £70m winger Anthony Gordon in England’s opening group games and wondered what they have bought,” Souness stated. “If Gordon turns up in Barcelona and plays as conservatively as he did against Croatia and Ghana, then he will not be staying in Catalonia for too long.”
Souness further warned that the expectations at the Camp Nou are unforgiving, particularly with the meteoric rise of Barcelona’s own teenage prodigy, Lamine Yamal.
”Lamine Yamal is the template for a Barcelona winger,” Souness added, pointing to Yamal’s electric performances for Spain. “You are kidding yourself if you don’t think everyone around Barcelona, from fans to the media to the players, isn’t watching and saying: ‘If Yamal is doing that, what is Gordon doing?'”
Thomas Tuchel Admits England’s Left Side is Stalling
It isn’t just television pundits noticing the dip in form. England manager Thomas Tuchel addressed the lack of attacking bite down the left side, confirming that the high-flying performances seen in the pre-tournament friendlies have completely vanished.
While Tuchel was quick to protect Gordon from individual blame, his assessment of the attacking unit was telling:
”We had a very good match against Costa Rica with Anthony and the unit,” Tuchel explained. “It’s more a unit on the left side than it is individuals or ‘the winger didn’t do enough.’ The unit on the left side hasn’t provided the same quality as they did against Costa Rica.”
The Pressure Mounting Ahead of Panama
With reports swirling that Tuchel is ready to shake up his starting lineup for the final group stage match against Panama—including a potential start for Marcus Rashford on the left wing—Gordon finds himself fighting for both his international spot and his reputation before reporting for pre-season in Spain.
Gordon’s prolific 17-goal season for Newcastle is what triggered Barcelona to trigger the blockbuster deal, but life at one of the world’s biggest clubs requires a completely different level of mental fortitude. If Gordon cannot break out of his shell and rediscover his aggressive, direct style of play during the knockout rounds, his dream move to La Liga could turn into a sporting nightmare before it even begins.
Do you think Souness is being too harsh on Anthony Gordon, or is the £70m man genuinely flopping on the big stage? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
