Former teammate backs Barcelona new signing to succeed at Camp Nou: ‘He’s going to tear up the league’ | OneFootball

Anthony Gordon’s move to FC Barcelona has been one of the most talked-about transfers of the summer so far.

The €70 million fee, plus add-ons, has got everyone excited about the season ahead. While many are questioning the price tag, Barcelona have received a vote of confidence from one of Gordon’s old teammates, Salomon Rondon.

In an interview with Diario SPORT, the 36-year-old Venezuelan captain and Pachuca legend, who played alongside Gordon for a season and a half at Everton, backed the Englishman to succeed at Camp Nou.

Rondon backs Gordon to shine

Anthony Gordon will be a success at Barcelona, says Rondon. (Picture credit: Barcelona official website)

“I understand why Barca signed him for that amount of money, especially knowing that Anthony has enormous potential and a huge future,” he said.

Rondon was quick to highlight the physical and technical attributes that make Gordon such an exciting prospect for Flick’s side.

“He’s very versatile and incredibly fast. I think he reached speeds of up to 37 kilometres per hour in a sprint while at Newcastle.

“Technically, he’s very good, and his one-on-one ability is another of his strengths,” he added.

For Rondon, those qualities translate directly into what Barcelona demands from their attackers and he has no doubts about how well Gordon will slot in.

“He fits perfectly into the style of this Barca and can be a very important piece,” he said.

Rondon on Gordon’s character

Rondon was equally appreciative of Gordon’s character and the mentality he brings to the table.

Anthony Gordon was a major coup for Barcelona. (Picture credit: X/@FCBarcelona)

“I played with Anthony at Everton when he was quite young, and he’s very professional, a very focused guy even back then. I’m sure he’ll do very well because of his conviction and his focus on football,” he said.

Rondon also pointed to the quality of Gordon’s recent CV as evidence that this move is no gamble.

“Anthony has competed very strongly in the Champions League. And in the Premier League, he was undoubtedly one of the standout players,” he said.

He was equally clear about the timing of the move, believing Gordon would arrive at the Spotify Camp Nou at the peak of his powers.

“I’m sure he’s going to tear up the league, because it’s a very dynamic style of football, and besides, he’s playing for a Barca side that plays the ball very well and is always looking for space,” he said.

He wished luck to his former teammate, concluding, “I wish him all the best, because he deserves it.”