Barcelona’s costly call

Barcelona’s summer decision to move for Anthony Gordon rather than make Marcus Rashford’s loan permanent is already under renewed scrutiny.

The comparison has become sharper during England’s World Cup campaign, where the two wide forwards are competing for the same place in Thomas Tuchel’s attack.

According to Sky Sports, Barcelona completed a deal for Gordon from Newcastle United worth £69.3 million, around €80 million, including add-ons. At the same time, Rashford’s future was left uncertain, with Barcelona reluctant to turn his loan spell into a permanent move.

The numbers have inevitably followed both players. Rashford had a €30 million option to buy in his loan deal, while Gordon arrived for a far larger fee. That contrast has made Barcelona’s choice a talking point, especially now that England’s selection picture has shifted.

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Rashford takes his chance

Rashford began the World Cup on the bench, but his role has grown as the tournament has developed.

He scored as a substitute in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia, with FIFA’s match report listing him among the scorers after his late goal sealed the opening victory.

He was then handed a start against Panama, while Gordon, who had started England’s first two matches, was left unused.

According to Barca Blaugranes, that selection change has led to renewed questions about Barcelona’s transfer strategy. Rashford had been used from the bench in England’s first two games, but started the win over Panama, while Gordon’s early starts did not secure his place.

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The situation is not yet a verdict on either player. World Cup form can change quickly, and Gordon still has time to respond. But for now, Rashford has made the stronger immediate case for a larger role.

Gordon deal was about more than form

Barcelona’s thinking was not based only on recent performances.

According to FootballTransfers, Gordon was viewed as a direct replacement for Rashford, but Barcelona believed the overall financial package could be similar because Gordon could be offered a longer contract and was expected to earn lower wages.

That is an important distinction. Gordon’s transfer fee was much higher, but Barcelona’s decision also involved salary, age, contract length and long-term squad planning.

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Rashford is three and a half years older than Gordon, and his wages were widely seen as one of the main obstacles to a permanent deal. From Barcelona’s perspective, Gordon may have looked like the more sustainable signing, even if the headline fee was far larger.

England battle adds pressure

The debate has been amplified by social media.

According to The Touchline on X, Barcelona’s decision to choose Gordon over Rashford has become a live topic again because of how the England situation has developed at the World Cup.

The timing is awkward for Barcelona. Gordon has arrived as a major signing, but before he has even played a competitive match for the club, his place in the England team has come under pressure from the player he effectively replaced at Camp Nou.

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Rashford, meanwhile, has shown enough to keep himself in the conversation. He has not completely transformed England’s attack, but he has offered direct running, a goal and signs that he may be growing into the tournament.

A judgement still to come

It would be too early to call Barcelona’s decision a mistake.

Gordon was signed for the long term, and the club’s reasoning went beyond one tournament. Rashford’s form for England also does not remove the financial concerns that complicated his Barcelona future.

But the optics are difficult to ignore. Barcelona paid heavily for one England winger and stepped away from a cheaper route to another. Now, only weeks later, Rashford has moved ahead of Gordon in the national-team picture.

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For Barcelona, the real judgement will come next season. For England, the question is more immediate: which winger gives Tuchel the best chance of going deeper into the World Cup?

Right now, Rashford has made the stronger argument.