Barcelona sporting director Deco has revealed that the club chose Anthony Gordon ahead of Marcus Rashford because the Newcastle United winger is a stronger match for the team's footballing identity.

The Portuguese director's comments shed light on one of the most talked-about transfer decisions of the winter window, with both Gordon and Rashford having been linked with a move to the Catalan giants.

Deco made clear that while Rashford's quality was not in doubt, Gordon's profile aligned more closely with Barcelona's preferred style of play — a factor that ultimately proved decisive in the club's thinking.