Anthony Gordon took so long to turn up for his Barcelona presentation that they got in the burgers and changed rooms but no one had to wait quite as long as he did. The media gathered in a press room at 1pm, where a futsal news conference was scheduled for the evening. By the time the latest man to wear scarlet and blue eventually showed it was 9.23pm, so they had gone to the Sala Paris instead. There had been some paperwork issues, they said, things the Englishman described as “above me”. Still, at least he had made it.
Unveiling apart, it all happened quickly, really. It is still only May and a deal few foresaw has been closed, the winger joining from Newcastle for €70m (£60.7m) plus €10m in variables before the summer has even started. He has signed a five-year contract worth about £300,000 a week and, standing in a dark suit with sunglasses hanging from the breast pocket, he answered some of the questions in Spanish and left a good impression on a first day he said he had been excited about since he was three years old.
“There is a burning fire in my belly to win here,” he said. “[I bring] my intensity, work rate, technical ability. I like to score goals, assist and help the team win games.”
Gordon eventually arrived at the Camp Nou in a grey car, rolling up at the offices on Aristide Maillol street, but confirmation kept getting put back. Although there were reassurances that the deal was not at risk, when five, six, seven, even eight hours went past it was natural to wonder. It was 9.17pm when the official announcement finally dropped, a couple more minutes for Newcastle to say a public goodbye and a couple more for Gordon to appear, blinking in the lights. Asked whether he had suffered, he replied: “No, I knew it [the deal] would happen. I was very calm in the hotel, waiting for it to happen.”
“I can’t explain [the delay], I don’t know. It was stuff I don’t understand. My part was done. It was stuff above me, I think legal things; very small things.” Then he segued into Spanish to add: “I’m ready for this challenge; I am very conscious of the history of this club and the incredible players who have worn this shirt. I am very proud. It is a dream come true to be part of the history of this club.”
That was not the last time Gordon slipped into Spanish. A subsequent question led him to him start, stop and say: “No, sorry, in Spanish I don’t think I can answer this one.” But he was asked how he spoke the language. “As a kid I believed I would play for Barcelona, believe it or not,” he replied. “I have a physio and we speak every day and I said one day I would play there, so that’s why.” Then, back into Spanish again, he said: “You don’t sign for a club like this everyday so I am very excited.”
What exactly was it that made you sign for them, he was asked. “Everything,” he said.
Gordon claimed that he had found out “very late” about the offer, but said: “As soon as I knew Barcelona was a serious option, there was never any question. I always wanted Barça. It’s the biggest club on the planet. It’s the stuff I dreamed of when I was a child. To play for Barcelona is the biggest dream possible. I know it comes with a lot of responsibility but I am ready for the challenge. This shirt always has a lot of weight but I am excited.” He described Hansi Flick, with whom he had spoken, as a manager who “seems like a very nice person”, and the players as the best in the world.
After Newcastle had faced Barcelona in the Champions League, Gordon had said he had never seen a team play so well and he was reminded of that here, asked whether he was excited to play with Lamine Yamal. “I was excited to play for Barcelona when I was three,” he said. “To play with Lamine and the rest is exciting. At St James’ Park we couldn’t touch the ball. Frenkie [de Jong] and Pedri ruined our plans.”
To close, Gordon stood in front of a billboard carrying the slogan: “Catch me if you can.” He posed with a shirt that had 2031 on the back – the end of his contract, not his number – then made way. “Hopefully I can do it all in Spanish next time, thanks,” he said. It was 9.38pm and it was done.