🗞️ From local pride to an exciting signing, Thursday’s back pages | OneFootball

Thursday’s sports press is clearly divided along geographic and emotional lines. While the Madrid-based newspapers throw themselves with pride and melancholy behind Rayo Vallecano’s historic European final, the Barcelona papers lead big with a transfer-market bombshell: the rapid signing of England international Anthony Gordon.

Rayo, pride of the neighborhood, the team, and the fans

The Conference League final played in Leipzig dominates the front pages of MARCA and AS. The European dream of the modest Vallecas side slipped away by the narrowest of margins (1-0) against Crystal Palace because of a lone goal from Mateta, but the overall feeling is not one of failure, but of enormous dignity.

MARCA runs the eloquent headline in capital letters "Sad, but proud", noting in its match report that "a goal from Mateta ends Vallecas’ dream." The Madrid daily highlights the lack of cutting edge from the Madrid side on the decisive night, but emphasizes the unforgettable bond with their supporters in what was the first European final in the club’s history.

AS, meanwhile, opts for a more emotional angle on its front page with the headline: "Despite everything... it was worth it." The image shows the players (with Camello and Pathé Ciss in the foreground) looking at the stands packed with fans who never stopped cheering. .

Even the Catalan press sets aside some space out of respect for Rayo’s feat: Mundo Deportivo says in its footer "Rayo fall with honor," while Sport notes that Crystal Palace "deny Rayo European glory."

Bombshell in Barcelona: Anthony Gordon is now a Barça player

In the Catalan capital, the tone of the front pages changes completely. Optimism is overflowing after confirmation of the first major strategic move for next season: the signing of English winger Anthony Gordon from Newcastle.

Mundo Deportivo is blunt: "Gordon, signed". The paper details the figures of what it calls an "express deal": a five-season contract in exchange for €70 million fixed plus another €10 million in add-ons for titles. The front page highlights that the 25-year-old attacker is due to land in Barcelona today before joining the England squad’s training camp on Monday to prepare for the World Cup.

Sport takes almost exactly the same approach with a celebratory "Gordon, signed!", dressing the player in the Magpies shirt. Echoing the financial details of the deal, the newspaper underlines the immediate impact expected from him, making him the first major cornerstone of Barça’s project for the 2026/2027 season. 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 TOBIAS SCHWARZ - AFP or licensors