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Anthony Gordon is thriving at Barcelona, and the club seems equally delighted with him.
The 25-year-old waited over two decades for his "dream" transfer and has given everything on the field in his first competitive appearances for the club, recording three assists in three matches as Barça sit atop La Liga.
After contributing two assists off the bench on his debut against Elche, Gordon received a standing ovation for his relentless work rate on his home debut against Athletic Club.
He continued to impress supporters with his performance against Rayo Vallecano on Monday evening—pressuring Florian Lejeune into an own goal, before later teeing up Raphinha with a perfectly timed back heel in the 5–2 triumph.
The €70 million ($81 million) fee for the forward already looks like a bargain given current transfer market conditions, with Barcelona supporters completely won over by the Englishman's direct, high-energy style of play.
Mundo Deportivo heaped praise on the former Newcastle man after the match, calling him "a new idol at Camp Nou."
Gordon's New Nicknames
A banner outside the Spotify Camp Nou yesterday for Anthony Gordon:
"𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘴 𝘦𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘢" (Anthony Gordon is catalan) 😂❤ pic.twitter.com/MoAX8L0r6j
That's no exaggeration. Supporters at Camp Nou were heard chanting "Gordon, Gordon, Gordon" during the 5–2 victory that sent them back to the top of the table on goal difference, while a banner spotted outside the ground paid tribute to the new arrival. It reads: "Big Anthony Is Catalan."
Drop the 'n' from Gordon and you get "gordo," the Spanish word for big or fat ("gros" in Catalan), giving fans a natural new nickname for the winger.
That isn't the only nickname Gordon has acquired during his brief spell in Spain. The winger was knighted by Barcelona's official X account, which has christened him 'Sir Anthony Gordon.'
Meanwhile, much of the Spanish media has taken pleasure in calling the speedy attacker 'Flash'—a nod to the '80s sci-fi classic Flash Gordon.
It's an impressive beginning for only Barcelona's third English player in the past century.
Gordon Notes Key Difference Between La Liga, Premier League
The winger has adapted smoothly to La Liga, pointing out the key distinctions between his new environment and the style of football he was accustomed to in England.
Speaking after the victory over Rayo, he said via SPORT: "I won't pretend the Premier League isn't incredibly intense. The tempo is relentless, there are physical duels everywhere, long balls, set pieces, and a lot of contact."
"In England, that intensity can sometimes cover up errors. You can miscontrol the ball and make up for it by winning the next physical duel. Here, a poor first touch or a lapse in positional awareness punishes you straight away. The spaces are tighter, decisions need to be faster, and everything must be sharper."
"Some Premier League sides would find it difficult to play this way consistently because they might lack the patience or the midfield quality required," he added. "There's a different kind of footballing intelligence here."