Barcelona look to continue their history-making perfect start to the season and make it three wins out of three in the Champions League as the La Liga leaders travel to France for a massive league phase clash against two-time defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Here's how we think Hansi Flick will line up his troops for Tuesday's battle:
Flick is dealing with a defensive injury crisis as Eric Garcia, Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen have all been ruled out through injury.
Gerard Martín was also a doubt after a knock against Real Betis at the weekend, but he should be good to go as Pau Cubarsí's center-back partner in this one. Xavi Espart will likely move to right-back with Eric and Kounde out, and João Cancelo is expected to start ahead of Alejandro Balde at left-back.
Rodri was a candidate to start at center-back with all the injuries in defense but Martín's presence will allow the Spain captain to remain in his best position, with Fermín López and Pedri expected to round out the midfield trio for this one.

#start #champions #injury

Barcelona star Eric García has this week revealed his take that the podium for this year's Ballon d'Or award should be filled entirely by teammates from Hansi Flick's squad.
The subject of the upcoming 'Golden Ball' ceremony has of course dominated the headlines in Catalunya's capital over the course of the last week.
This comes owing not only to those Barcelona stars included on the 30-man shortlist, but also those left off.
Featuring front and centre were Blaugrana trio Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Pau Cubarsí, as well as the recently departed Ferran Torres. Surprisingly nowhere to be seen on the shortlist, though, were either Pedri or Raphinha.
Speaking during an interview with Cadena SER on Monday, the aforementioned Eric García was in turn asked for his take on the race to be named world football's best player for 2026.

#Barcelona #eric #garc #week

Barcelona star Pedri has dismissed suggestions that he's not compatible with Rodri after Sunday's 5-0 win over Valencia.
The two Spain stars started the game at Mestalla and were part of a brilliant Barcelona performance that delivered a fourth straight La Liga win.
Pedri was asked for his thoughts afterwards and made it clear he's enjoying playing with Rodri at Barca.
"It has been said that we don't work together, but it's very comfortable playing with Rodri," he told Movistar.
"He hardly ever loses the ball and that helps a lot in defence. We're going to have a good understanding that will get even better with more and more games."

#liga

Lamine Yamal struck twice for Barcelona as they demolished Valencia 5-0 on Sunday to maintain their 100 percent start in La Liga.
The reigning champions moved three points clear at the top of La Liga, after Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid lost 1-0 at Real Betis on Friday.
Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and Pedri were also on target for Hansi Flick's swaggering visitors on a hot afternoon on Spain's east coast.
Yamal did not take part in the team training session on Saturday after a knock but showed no signs of it during a dazzling display against Carlos Corberan's Los Che.
Barcelona, the only team in the top flight to win their first four games, took control from the start to the upset of Valencia's fans at a persistently bad-tempered Mestalla stadium.

#real #start #lamine #jose

Barcelona faced off against Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium earlier today as they hoped to secure all three points on the road in La Liga. The Catalan club made a bright start to the game and got their noses ahead in the sixth-minute thanks to Lamine Yamal's effort. Fermin Lopez doubled his team's advantage in the 22nd minute as Barcelona went into the half-time break 2-0 up on the scoreline.
Raphinha put daylight between the two sides in the 50th minute before Pedri made it 4-0 for Hansi Flick's team in the 79th minute. Yamal got himself another goal just five minutes later as the Catalan giants earned a dominant 5-0 win away from home.
Let's take a look at how each Barcelona player fared during the clash against Valencia.
He made a couple of solid saves at the back and did enough to secure the clean sheet.
RB: Eric Garcia – 6.5/10

#stadium

Barcelona remain perfect to start the season and have won their fourth straight La Liga game to open up a three-point lead at the top of the table thanks to a dominant 5-0 win over Valencia at Mestalla on Sunday afternoon. The Blaugrana put on another attacking show and created over a dozen giant chances, and Lamine Yamal (twice), Raphinha, Fermín López and Pedri found the net to give the leaders three more points in spectacular fashion.
Barça played a fantastic opening period, establishing their dominance from the opening whistle and creating huge chances early and often against Valencia's low block.
Lamine Yamal scored a brilliant first goal and had a second disallowed for a very narrow offside, and came very close three other times. Fermín López also found the net with a powerful finish in the box, and almost scored a glorious solo goal but was denied by the keeper and the post.
The Catalans had a couple of scares at the back but Joan Garcia was up to the task with a couple of big saves. Barça were in control for the entire half, however, and dominated midfield thanks to Rodri, who was simply fantastic in the opening 45 minutes of his first start.
There was only one piece of bad news when a freak accident caused Eric Garcia to suffer a broken nose in a collision with Rodri in the box, but Barça were fully in control and had a deserved two-goal lead at the break.

#opening #lamine #yamal #start

The next Barcelona match is upon us! The Blaugrana travel to Mestalla for a La Liga game against Valencia, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 24 players for Sunday's clash:
Goalkeepers: 1. Joan Garcia, 13. Wojciech Szczesny, 25. Dominik Livakovic
Defenders: 2. João Cancelo, 3. Alejandro Balde, 5. Pau Cubarsí, 12. Xavi Espart, 15. Andreas Christensen, 18. Gerard Martín, 23. Jules Kounde, 24. Eric Garcia
Midfielders: 4. Brian Fariñas, 6. Gavi, 7. Fermín López, 8. Pedri, 16. Rodri, 20. Dani Olmo, 22. Marc Bernal
Forwards: 9. Gabriel Jesus, 10. Lamine Yamal, 11. Raphinha, 14. Karim Adeyemi, 17. Anthony Gordon, 29. Hamza Abdelkarim

#garcia #mestalla #valencia

Barcelona made it six points in two games with their win over Athletic Club last night as they took the Basque giants down with a 2-0 scoreline at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Pedri, Pau Cubarsi and Anthony Gordon entered the starting lineup on the night and the team looked comfortable, yet threatening from the get-go.
Raphinha eventually scored the opener with some wonderful footwork and Barcelona toiled to earn the second goal to pull free of the competition.
Eventually, a bit of luck and Fermin Lopez's lethality helped the team secure the 2-0 win and helped them back to the top of the table.
Barça Universal brings you three takeaways from Barcelona 2-0 Athletic Club.

#eventually #night

FC Barcelona's biggest signing of the summer so far, Rodri, is already preparing for his competitive debut, reports Mundo Deportivo.
After working individually last week because he joined the squad with limited pre-season preparation following his World Cup triumph and a minor back procedure, Rodri trained alongside his teammates for the first time on Monday.
As Hansi Flick had announced before the match against Elche, the midfielder worked with the players who either played limited minutes or did not feature at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.
The starters completed a recovery session instead. Among those who played against Elche, only Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, Karim Adeyemi and Pedri took to the pitch at the ***** o Vilanova training ground.
Rodri has now begun his return to full training with Thursday's match against Athletic Club in mind.

#rodri #elche #played #deportivo

The next Barcelona match is upon us! The Blaugrana kick off a new season with a trip to Elche for the first La Liga game of the campaign, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 23 players for Sunday's clash:
Goalkeepers: Joan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny, Eder Aller
Defenders: João Cancelo, Pau Cubarsí, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martín, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Álvaro Cortés, Jordi Pesquer
Midfielders: Gavi, Fermín López, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, Brian Fariñas, Xavi Espart
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Karim Adeyemi, Anthony Gordon, Hamza Abdelkarim

#garcia #elche #goalkeepers #wojciech

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona made official the signing of Spain captain Rodri on Tuesday, adding the World Cup's best player to a squad already filled with world champions.
The midfielder who helped Spain secure its second World Cup ******* le transferred from Manchester City to join international teammates such as Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Pau Cubarsí, Gavi and Pedri.
The 30-year-old Rodri's contract will run to 2030, Barcelona said. The announcement was made after the midfielder underwent a medical and the clubs finalized transfer details.
Barcelona agreed to a transfer worth 76.5 million euros ($88.5 million), according to a person with knowledge of the transaction confirmed to The ******* ociated Press on Sunday. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the details of the deal have not been made public.
Rodri, who had one year left on his City contract, said upon arriving in Barcelona on Monday that it was "a dream to play" for the Catalan club.

#rodri #city #midfielder

MADRID (AP) — Spain's World Cup-winning captain Rodri is set to arrive in Barcelona on Monday to seal his transfer from Manchester City to the Catalan club.
Rodri was expected to undergo a medical as Barcelona and City exchanged documentation to finalize the agreement.
Barcelona agreed to a deal worth 76.5 million euros ($88.5 million), a person with knowledge of the transaction confirmed to The **** ociated Press on Sunday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the transfer have not been made public.
The 30-year-old midfielder Rodri, who helped Spain secure its second World Cup **** le last month, will join international teammates Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Pau Cubarsí, Gavi and Pedri at the Catalan club.
Rodri won the Golden Ball as the World Cup's best player. He had one year left on his contract with City.

#city #million #year

Barcelona's decision to leave Pedri and Gavi out of the squad for the friendly against FC Basel has raised eyebrows, but there is no alarm inside the club.
In fact, according to SPORT, Barcelona are completely relaxed about the fitness of both midfielders.
Their absence from the trip is understood to be a precautionary decision by Hansi Flick, who is unwilling to take unnecessary risks during the opening phase of pre-season.
The two Spaniards were among the most notable absentees from the travelling squad, aside from players dealing with injuries or waiting for clarity over their futures.
However, their situations are not being treated as injury concerns.

#squad #basel #sport #spaniards

Hansi Flick has named his Barcelona squad for Sunday's friendly against FC Basel at Sankt Jakob-Park in Switzerland.
The Barcelona boss has named 24 players for the trip but has left out Pedri and Gavi, with both players working on specific training plans right now.
Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji miss out due to injury, while there's also no place for Marc Casado, Hector Fort, Tommy Marques, Jofre Torrents, Guille Fernandez, or Toni Fernandez who are all expected to depart before the transfer window closes.
Here's the squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Joan García, Wojciech Szczęsny, Eder Aller

#Barcelona #flick

Earlier today, FC Barcelona posted an image of star midfielder Pedri on social media with the 23-year-old resuming on-pitch training at the Ciutat Esportiva.
"Pedri is following a specific training program during his first few days of pre-season," the caption read.
It was perhaps to reassure fans who had not seen any images of him since last Wednesday, when the final World Cup winners joined training.
The Blaugrana also posted a video of the midfielder already working on the pitch at the Ciutat Esportiva to allay any fears of their midfield maestro dealing with any fitness issues.
For Pedri, as for manager Hansi Flick Flick, starting the season at full fitness is essential.

#pedri #training #posted #pitch

The 2026/27 LALIGA season promises to be one of the most electrifying in recent memory. With multimillion-euro projects, marquee signings, and the return of historic clubs, the battle for the ****** le and survival will deliver high drama every matchday.
The Real Madrid dugout once again has the Portuguese coach as its leading figure. After strengthening with top-level names such as Cucurella and Diomande, Los Blancos are aiming to ****** the crown from FC Barcelona. However, in the Catalan capital there is no fear: the newly crowned champions boast a golden backbone made up of young world champions such as Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi and Cubarsí. The battle at the top is expected to be fierce.
Atlético de Madrid do not want to be mere spectators in this clash of giants. Diego Pablo Simeone takes on the challenge with high-profile arrivals such as Alejandro Grimaldo, Morten Hjulmand and Kang-in Lee. The big question surrounding the Colchoneros lies in their consistency; they will have to show whether this new project has the substance needed to challenge the two superpowers of Spanish football for the ****** le on equal terms.
Behind the favorites, the race for European spots will be fierce. Sides such as Villarreal, Real Betis, Real Sociedad, Celta de Vigo and Getafe have geared up to deliver a fascinating campaign. Meanwhile, Athletic Club begin with the moral obligation to win back their place in continental competition, which will raise the bar in the upper-middle tier.
The other side of the coin features illustrious clubs hit by hardship. Historic sides such as Valencia CF and Sevilla FC are forced to deal with difficult transfer windows and marked institutional instability. For their fans, the immediate objective is survival: grow stronger through adversity, avoid trouble in the standings, and try to restore former glories through total commitment.

#historic #sides #battle #survival

According to Mundo Deportivo, FC Barcelona defender Jules Kounde is back at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.
The French defender returned to the Catalan club's training facilities on Tuesday following his holiday, exactly as planned.
Kounde finished his participation in the World Cup one day earlier than the Spanish internationals after playing in the third-place playoff against England.
As a result, he was given one fewer day of vacation than the world champions and returned to Barcelona on Tuesday.
With the Frenchman's return, along with the early arrivals of Gavi, Joan Garcia and Eric Garcia, Hansi Flick is now only waiting for Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal to rejoin the squad.

#kounde

A trio of first-team stars at La Liga giants Barcelona on Sunday moved to reiterate their commitment to the cause with a view to the season ahead in Catalunya's capital.
This came through respective early returns to pre-season training.
The majority of Hansi Flick's squad have of course now reported to base at the Ciutat Esportiva to kickstart preparations for the 2026/27 campaign. The likes of Marc Bernal, Alejandro Balde and Wojciech Szczęsny, in fact, have been hard at work for a number of weeks already.
For those members of Barca's ranks to have advanced all the way to the semi-finals of this summer's World Cup, though, their comebacks were pencilled in for this coming Wednesday, August 12th.
This group includes the likes of Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Jules Koundé.

#hansi

Rodri has made his preference unambiguous: Real Madrid or nothing, according to Diario AS, with Barcelona's recent enquiry failing to register as a genuine alternative in the Manchester City midfielder's thinking. The Spanish newspaper reports that the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner is unfazed by the Blaugrana's interest and has a singular desire to return to his home city and play in white.
Rodri has not been coy about his intentions. Speaking publicly earlier in the saga, he made clear that declining an offer from one of the world's best clubs was not something he was prepared to do, and that the door on his end remained open. That has not changed since Barcelona entered the picture.
Diario AS report that despite an evident on-field chemistry with several Barcelona players through the Spain national team – Pedri and Lamine Yamal among them – Rodri has given no indication that Camp Nou holds any appeal. The only shirt he is thinking about is Real Madrid's. Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich had also been linked at various points, but both pulled back from a move once it became clear he wanted the white shirt, according to Goal.
Barcelona's interest, per Goal citing Cadena SER, has not yet progressed to a formal approach to Manchester City. Barcelona made contact with Rodri's entourage but have yet to speak to City directly. Frenkie de Jong's injury sparked Barcelona's interest in Rodri, though the Catalan club have since learned where his priority lies. Barcelona's focus remains on completing the signing of Cancelo and a striker following Robert Lewandowski's departure, and Goal notes that after spending 110 million euros on Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Baesio, finding a further 75 million euros for Rodri would be very difficult.
The awkward reality for Rodri is that his preference is not yet matched by equal enthusiasm from Los Blancos. Diario AS reported earlier in the year that Rodri did not feature in the club's future plans, and The Times noted that interest at the Bernabéu had cooled, with concerns about his fitness underpinning the hesitation.

#diario #goal #made #preference

Barcelona's midfield situation has changed considerably over the last few weeks. Frenkie de Jong's injury has left Hansi Flick with fewer reliable options in the double pivot, while Marc Bernal is still returning from a lengthy layoff and cannot immediately be expected to carry a full workload.
Pedri remains an automatic starter and Gavi has proven that he can play alongside him, but the depth behind them suddenly looks far less secure than it did at the beginning of the summer.
There have also been rumours that Flick had already begun losing some trust in Frenkie towards the end of last season. The Dutchman reportedly did not manage his previous injury particularly well and continued playing during a World Cup year despite not being fully fit.
That was said to have frustrated Flick, who began trusting Gavi more during the closing stages of the campaign. Frenkie has still travelled with the team for pre-season, although some have interpreted that as Flick wanting him to recover under the club's supervision and, in a way, holding him accountable for how the situation was handled.
With Barcelona still expected to complete more business before the transfer window closes, another midfielder may now have become a genuine necessity rather than a luxury.

#still

FC Barcelona have unveiled their away kit for the 2026/27 season, developed together with Nike and the Kobe brand. The new shirt represents the second chapter of a growing collaboration that highlights a shared competitive mindset.
The shirt and the entire collection combine a black base with a gradient fading into purple at the bottom, along with gold details and graphic elements linked to Kobe Stealth, the identity of the Kobe Bryant brand.
Among the standout details are a print inspired by snakeskin texture, the FC Barcelona crest with an iridescent finish, the Kobe logo on the chest, and a Kobe Bryant quote hidden inside the collar that captures the 'Mamba Mentality': "Leave the game better than you found it".
The launch campaign features players such as Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie De Jong, Alejandro Balde, Ewa Pajor and Patri Guijarro, among others.
The garment has only been presented as a commercial product; its official debut on the pitch has not yet been confirmed. It will arrive during pre-season, coinciding with the first-team's opening fixtures.

#bryant #shirt

Frenkie de Jong's injury update earlier this week confirmed that the player would miss a big part of the opening of the new season, as he has ruptured the medial collateral ligament of his knee.
The development comes as a massive blow to Hansi Flick's plans, for De Jong has proven to be instrumental as a starter alongside Pedri in recent years for the club.
Having the club captain out to yet another injury blow, needless to say, leaves the club in a relatively tricky situation with only Pedri, Gavi and Marc Bernal left as the options to play in the deep midfield.
Further, it makes the operation of Marc Casado's departure complicated too.
As reported by Mundo Deportivo now, Barcelona have no intention of changing their transfer plans after De Jong's injury and will rely only on internal solutions until he is back.

#pedri #frenkie

Former Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski has on Thursday sent a message of congratulations the way of some of his ex-teammates in Catalunya's capital.
This of course comes after no fewer than eight members of Hansi Flick's squad were crowned world champions last weekend.
Owing to a 1-0 extra-time downing of Argentina, Spain emerged triumphant at the 2026 World Cup. Luis da la Fuente's ranks were packed with Barcelona players, with all of Joan García, Eric García, Pau Cubarsí, Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres having made the trip to North America.
The latter even notched the decisive goal in Sunday's final.
Spotted celebrating in the aftermath of Ferran's extra-time strike in New York was the aforementioned Robert Lewandowski, fresh off bringing a close to his Blaugrana stint earlier this summer.

#World #extra #hansi

When Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal lead their sides out at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday evening, they will be doing more than chasing a place in Sunday's final, they will be fronting the priciest collection of talent ever ****** embled for a men's World Cup semi-final.
Transfermarkt's latest figures value France's squad at roughly $1.78 billion (€1.56bn) and Spain's at $1.43 billion (€1.25bn), a combined total of around $3.2 billion (€2.8bn), which outstrips any previous last-four meeting in the tournament's history.
Much of that financial weight is concentrated in a handful of individuals.
Barcelona's Yamal, who turned 19 the day before kick-off, is the most expensive player left in the competition at around $234 million (€205m), with Mbappé close behind at roughly $211 million (€185m).
Michael Olise and Pedri follow, both valued at around $176 million (€154m).

Even though Spain have done well to reach the semifinals of this World Cup, beating the likes of Austria, Portugal, and Belgium in the process, it has not been a particularly impressive World Cup for Pedri.
The midfielder has faced criticism for his performances. Although he has been consistent as ever with his passing and movement, the creative output hasn’t been there, with Luis de la Fuente notably benching him in favour of Fabian Ruiz against Belgium.
Mario Suarez has backed Pedri amid criticism. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
In the midst of this criticism, Pedri has found support from former Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez, who made no attempt to hide his admiration for the Barcelona star.
“I have a soft spot for Pedri; to me, he’s the best midfielder in the world,” Suarez said (h/t Jijantes).

Affable and well-mannered, 65-year-old Luis de la Fuente is not a coach for hyperbole. In need of another moment of magic in the greenhouse of a stadium in Los Angeles, the Spain head coach threw on his ace in his pack. Two minutes later, Mikel Merino was a late-show match-winner once again, pouncing with a substitute spring in his step to overcome Belgium's resilient showing. Yet **** uming De la Fuente's words of wisdom for the midfielder were awe-inspiring would be misguided.
"The truth is… he told me very little," Merino said after his 88th-minute quarter-final winner on Friday, witnessed by his two-month-old son Marco. "He [De la Fuente] told me it's something about [being a] number 10. And then when the match ended, he told me I was incredible – and those were the two things he commented to me."
Merino has a habit of scoring in critical moments for his country; he scored the winner in the quarter-final win over Germany at Euro 2024. A year later, he was on the scoresheet in the mesmeric 5-4 Nations League victory against France and, obviously, he also notched the winner against Portugal last Monday. It speaks to Spain's depth upon depth of midfield talent – Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo and Pedri all featured before Merino on Friday – that the **** nal man is accepting of, without complaint, his role in the squad.
Yet Spain, as acknowledged by star player Lamine Yamal who – disconcertingly but also excitingly – is yet to fully fire despite flashes of magic, were not at their best in Inglewood.
"We didn't play very well but hey, we were right there with them and we held up well," said Yamal, who turns 19 on Monday. "I think if we had kept the ball a bit better, we would have created a lot more and been more dangerous."

Why is Pedri not starting vs. Belgium? Spain star benched for World Cup 2026 quarterfinal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Spain have been in exceptional form at the 2026 World Cup and remain one of the favorites to win the trophy.
Luis de la Fuente's European champions have benefited from a largely settled lineup, not even conceding a goal in their progress from the group stage through to Friday's game against Belgium in Los Angeles.
This made the decision to bench Barcelona star Pedri for the match especially difficult to understand.
The Sporting News looks at Spain's starting lineup for this quarterfinal showdown and why Fabian Ruiz was preferred in midfield.

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta is planning to travel to the United States if Spain defeats Belgium in Friday's 2026 World Cup quarter-final and secures a place in the semi-finals, reports Mundo Deportivo.
Should La Roja advance, they will play on Tuesday, July 14, in Dallas, where they would face the winner of the quarterfinal between France and Morocco, which is scheduled to be played today in Boston.
Spain's squad includes as many as eight Barcelona players. Indeed, Joan Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, and Ferran Torres are all part of Luis de la Fuente's squad.
With such a strong Blaugrana presence in the La Roja squad, the club president wants to attend the semi-final to support the players as they attempt to secure a place in the World Cup final.
Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16, courtesy of a stoppage-time winner from Mikel Merino. In the previous round, they had disposed of Austria with great ease.

The 2026 World Cup enters its most electrifying stage. The front pages of the world sports press are overflowing with optimism and anticipation ahead of quarterfinals that promise maximum tension, with the Spanish national team stealing all the spotlight in its imminent and thrilling clash against Belgium.
The Spanish press reflects an atmosphere of total unity and ambition ahead of the showdown with the Belgians. In Marca, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois builds up the pre-match by admitting the great quality of his rival: "Spain is always a favorite to win everything."
Meanwhile, youth takes center stage in Mundo Deportivo, where Lamine Yamal warns with tremendous maturity and optimism that his "great game is going to come."
For their part, belief in the dressing room is absolute; Sport highlights a forceful "We're going for the World Cup" from Pedri on its front page, while As crowns its cover with a stellar Unai Simón under the slogan "We came to win the World Cup."
Analysts agree: after eliminating Portugal, Luis de la Fuente's side feels invincible.

Anthony Gordon is perhaps the most traditional type of English winger. He's strong, fast, with an ability to whip a cross into the box and a work rate that goes toe-to-toe with Raphinha. He comes to Camp Nou with a hefty price tag, something that has made some fans skeptical, but there is a method to the madness. Firstly, Gordon is a younger, fitter and more intense variant of the profile Barca experimented with last season with Marcus Rashford.
Secondly, sheer pace in the final third is a trait Barcelona have lacked. While technically breaking down an opponent is the Barcelona way, the brute force of a fast winger will solve situations when tactically things get slow. Gordon has been clocked as one of the fastest players at World Cup 2026, hitting a top speed of 37.9 km/h.
What Gordon lacks in final product compared to Rashford, he brings in energy off the ball, a trait that fits the Flick system perfectly. This signing will need time to pay off. We might see Gordon struggling with fewer touches, and the more technical nature of La Liga compared to the Premier League, but that's what was said about Raphinha when he signed from Leeds. The good thing is that Gordon can be a real handful due to his physical nature in attack, an area where experienced Premier League forwards always stand out, especially when compared to La Liga's more technical forwards.
Last season, Raphinha missed many important games due to injury and one thing that could not be replaced in his absence is work rate. Barca without Raphinha looked toothless without the ball, with no leader in pressing. Gordon certainly brings that profile over Rashford. Any team that wants to compete for all ***** les needs the ability to replicate similar profiles when squad rotation is necessary. Gordon's work rate will be even more important when the calendar becomes dense as we move deeper into the season. This will also allow other forwards to be fresh and ready to go when the Champions League knockouts come around.
Another thing that is noticeable is that there were moments last season where, in Pedri's absence, Barca could not progress the ball forward with conviction. Having a ball-playing goalkeeper in Joan Garcia and a forward as pacy as Gordon can help in such situations.