Anthony Gordon’s career at Newcastle United might have fizzled out in the end, but it seems that was a decision made all by parties.
Now that Gordon has signed for Barcelona, more insight into his final days as a Newcastle United player has emerged.
Indeed, Gordon’s last game for the club came back in mid-April. The winger missed two games through injury after that and then sat on the bench for the final four games of the season.
What does being HAPPY we sold Gordon quickly say about Newcastle United? 👀
The standards, I feel, have never been lower…
He was duly criticised by supporters online, many of whom expressed their opinion that Gordon already had eyes on a move elsewhere.
Eddie Howe said he was merely focusing on the future when explaining Gordon’s omissions, which added fuel to that particular fire.
However, it seems as if all parties agreed it was the right way to go.
Newcastle and Gordon agreed he shouldn’t play
It was put to Mark Douglas of iNews on social media platform X by one user that Gordon’s lack of action at the end of the campaign makes the idea of him leaving the club on good terms somewhat strange.
Douglas, however, revealed that Gordon “didn’t chuck it in” at that point, and that the decision not to play him was fairly mutual because all parties involved knew the player was about to leave.
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He wrote: “Think that was fairly mutual decision, tbh [to be honest]. Didn’t chuck it in but all parties knew he was going.”
That is sensible, though only because of the situation Newcastle were in. They had little to play for and anyone who seriously thought they were good enough to challenge for European qualification was a genuine optimist.
Had something tangible really been on the line, that would look very different indeed.
There is no suggestion that Gordon didn’t want to play for Newcastle again. The fact that is even seen as a good thing does underline just what a mess the Alexander Isak saga became.
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