Anthony Gordon surprised many observers on Friday as he was introduced as a new Barcelona player and spoke Spanish after signing a five-year contract with the club.
It’s since been revealed that Gordon used to practice his Spanish with Newcastle physio Daniel Martí and had been learning the language because he had always dreamt of playing for the Catalans.
Marti has now been talking about Gordon and says Barca have signed a great player.
“You’ve got a gem, we’re going to miss him a lot,” he RAC1. “He’s
a guy who isn’t glued to his phone all day and likes to talk and socialize. He’s different from everyone else.”
Marti also confirmed that Gordon had always been dreaming of heading to Catalunya.
“It’s true. He has very clear goals and from day one he said, ‘I’m going to play in Spain, I’m going to play for Barça.’ But here in England, the Spanish league is followed a lot, and every player dreams of playing in Spain, for a big team. He’s always been obsessed with this, yes,” he added.
“He’s an animal. He’s a beast, very physical. He has genetic speed; he doesn’t need to train. It’s a requirement of the Premier League, and he already had it. When Rafa signed him, he already had it, and that’s why Newcastle signed him, because of that intensity.”
High praise indeed from someone who knows Gordon well.
