Barcelona sporting director Deco has revealed that the club chose Anthony Gordon over Marcus Rashford because the England winger's profile aligns more closely with head coach Hansi Flick's footballing philosophy.

Rashford spent last season on loan at the Catalan club, contributing 14 goals as Barcelona claimed both La Liga and the Spanish Supercopa. Despite those numbers, the club declined to activate a €30 million purchase option to make the transfer permanent.

Instead, Barcelona invested €70 million to lure Gordon away from Newcastle United, making the 25-year-old their headline signing of the summer.

Deco explains the decision

Speaking to RAC1 in an interview carried by ESPN, Deco was fulsome in his praise of Rashford while making clear that Gordon simply offered a better fit.