Barcelona have addressed concerns regarding former Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon ahead of their La Liga season opener against Elche on Sunday
The Catalan club have stated there are no worries about Anthony Gordon’s registration, shortly after he failed to convert a late penalty during their 2-1 victory over Al-Ahly.
Gordon arrived at Barcelona in a £69million transfer from Newcastle United earlier this summer and was handed his first start in the penultimate pre-season match in Basel. The England international made an impressive start to life at the club, helping Hansi Flick’s side secure a 5-2 victory and winning praise from the Barcelona supporters.
Despite his promising debut, the 25-year-old has yet to be officially registered by the Spanish side ahead of Sunday’s league opener against Elche. Karim Adeyemi finds himself in a similar position following his £19million move from Borussia Dortmund, while Rodri, who completed a £65million switch from Manchester City this week, has successfully completed his registration.
However, sources have indicated that Barcelona remain unconcerned about Gordon’s registration status and are confident he will be eligible for this weekend’s fixture at Elche. It is also understood that the player’s representatives are calm about the situation and have no plans to seek emergency alternatives should the registration not be completed in time.
Gordon made his first appearance at the club’s home ground on Wednesday, entering the game as a half-time replacement for Raphinha during their final pre-season encounter against Egyptian Premier League team Al-Ahly. With Flick’s side leading 2-1 deep into added time, Gordon was presented with an ideal opportunity to mark his Barcelona debut with a goal when the team was awarded a spot kick.
The former Newcastle player, who boasted an impressive record from the penalty spot during his time at St James’ Park, saw his attempt kept out by Al-Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, who managed to get down quickly and divert the ball wide of the post.
Gordon was officially presented to the Barcelona supporters on Tuesday after completing his first full week of pre-season training following his involvement with England at the summer’s World Cup. He expressed that the move to Barcelona came without hesitation once it became a genuine possibility.
The winger described joining Barcelona as everything he dreamed of as a child and a genuine dream fulfilled, acknowledging the significant responsibility that comes with representing such a prestigious club while stating his readiness to embrace this new challenge. He recognised the historical weight of wearing the Barcelona shirt and expressed enthusiasm for the task ahead.
He also spoke of his excitement at the prospect of featuring alongside players like Lamine Yamal and the rest of the squad, believing that quality teammates elevate everyone’s performance and that these players have earned their status at the highest level because they are among the world’s finest.