Barcelona sporting director Deco has revealed that Anthony Gordon was viewed as a better tactical fit than Marcus Rashford as the club shaped their attacking options this summer, according to the BBC.
Rashford ended up at Barcelona anyway on loan from Manchester United, but Deco's comments suggest Gordon, the Newcastle winger, was also on the club's radar as they looked to strengthen Hansi Flick's squad. Deco reportedly indicated that Gordon's playing style suited the demands of Flick's system more closely than Rashford's.
Details on how far talks progressed for Gordon, or whether a formal approach was made to Newcastle, have not been disclosed. The BBC's report offers only Deco's assessment comparing the two forwards rather than a full account of any negotiation.
For now, Rashford remains the player Barcelona secured, with Gordon staying on Tyneside — though Deco's remarks confirm the Catalan club were weighing up multiple options as they assessed reinforcements for Flick's attack this summer.