“Not just quick”: Gordon claims England underrated his quality before £69m Barcelona switch
Anthony Gordon has suggested his overall game was under-appreciated in England before his move to Barcelona this summer.
Gordon completed a £69m transfer to Barcelona from Newcastle United in the summer window and has made an impressive start, with four La Liga assists in six appearances.
The 25-year-old also continued his good form for England during the 3-2 defeat to Spain at the weekend, scoring at Wembley to make it five consecutive international appearances with a goal or assist.
Gordon believes perceptions around him have now changed, believing there was a focus on his physical qualities during his time in the Premier League.
Anthony Gordon: Spain appreciates my IQ and technique more than the Premier League did
"I think I've become a different player in a lot of people's eyes because I always felt, in England, people respected me because I was fast and I pressed, but they never actually respected the quality and the IQ that I play with. Only the players that I played with seem to ever notice that," Gordon told ITV Sport.
"I think now that I'm at Barcelona and I play a different style, those qualities are highlighted much more and people are starting to actually take notice that I'm not just quick. I think in England it was never really respected. People just see me as really quick and really aggressive.
"Whereas in Spain, I think they really appreciate my IQ and quality. Because, in Barcelona, if you're not technical, if you're not smart, you're going to stand out like a sore thumb.
"I think people are starting to [appreciate that more in England], but I think it can happen more. They see me play for Barcelona in a different style of football, where maybe those qualities are highlighted more. I played for Newcastle, who were a really intense running team, so the attributes of running and aggression were always on show. Now, I play a whole opposite style of football where my other qualities can show.
"That's kind of what I wanted, if I'm honest. I wanted to leave the Premier League. I wanted a different kind of experience. I felt like I had more than what people thought of me and I wanted to show it on the world's biggest stage. Going abroad was very important for me."
