Hansi Flick may have been harboring the Anthony Gordon secret for a long time.
Of course, there are no certainties in football, but a surprise signing like this, at this time, could only have happened at the direct request of a manager with growing control and influence over club proceedings.
On paper, Gordon looks like a player that Flick would have drawn up with the perfect balance of talent, physicality, and athleticism. The better to attack and press aggressively with.
We don’t know exactly what
will come next, but it is safe to say the public is now expecting a busy summer in Catalonia. The first one of the Hansi Flick era.
The first two seasons, Flick took the foundation that Xavi put in place, and made Barcelona into true winners. Make no mistake about it though, these were Xavi’s players that Flick was working with.
Anthony Gordon will be the first significant signing that Deco and Joan Laporta brought in to truly back Flick’s project.
What will be interesting now is not just be who else comes in, but who is asked to leave. The latter will be a difficult task because once players arrive in Barcelona, it’s hard to get them to go without a fight, or at least with words of tough love.
Flick’s man management, however, has proven to be one of his greatest strengths.
In the end, he will make the most out of what is at his disposal.
What’s really going on within the balance sheets at FC Barcelona is anyone’s guess. All of a sudden, there’s money? Not just for Gordon, but also for Julian Alvarez and maybe Bernardo Silva as well?
Maybe Deco is banking on being able to make a few big sales as well. Much easier said than done. Maybe he thinks by making an early splash, it will give Barcelona more leverage in their pursuit of others. They can now carry a poker face that says we aren’t as desperate as we have appeared in the past.
One thing that’s for certain, as the World Cup heats up, the drama off the field in Barcelona may be just as intriguing as the drama on the field in North America, Mexico and Canada.
Flick has earned the trust of club leadership. This is his team now. Joan Laporta wouldn’t be spending big money if he didn’t fully believe in his manager, and that this is the moment to press his advantage.
A word of caution however. Let’s hope Barcelona remains humble and grounded.
Any investment must be a smart one. This is not the time for a spending spree.
It’s not as simple as give Flick great players, and you win the Champions League. Whoever comes in has to be a good fit for both the coach, and for the club who will likely have the player on the books long after Flick is gone.
Gordon looks to be Barca material. There’s good reason to be excited.
Now we must wait and see if there is a bigger master plan at play to form a team that gives Flick a chance to make it three in a row in La Liga, while also making a proper run for Champions League glory.
