Anthony Gordon: Barcelona move has earned me more respect

Speaking to ITV, the 25-year-old said his reputation in England had often centred on his pace and work rate rather than his footballing intelligence.

"I think I've become a different player in a lot of people's eyes," Gordon said.

"I always felt in England, people respected me because I was fast and I pressed but they never actually respected the quality and IQ that I play with."

Gordon believes Barcelona's possession-based style has highlighted aspects of his game that were less visible during his time at Newcastle, where his running and aggression were prominent features.

"I think now I'm at Barcelona and I play a different style, those qualities are highlighted much more and people are actually starting to take notice that I'm not just quick," he added.

The winger said playing for Barcelona also places greater emphasis on technical ability and tactical understanding.

"In Spain, they really appreciate my IQ and quality because at Barca, if you're not technical, if you're not smart, you're going to stand out like a sore thumb."

Gordon deliberately wanted to experience football outside England and believes leaving the Premier League has helped him demonstrate that his game is about more than physical attributes.

"I felt like I had more than what people thought of me and I wanted to show that on the world's biggest stage," he said.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has backed Gordon despite his lack of goals, with the winger's pressing and contribution to the team's attacking structure among the qualities valued by the club.

Gordon will now look to continue his progress in Spain after returning from international duty, with Barcelona facing a busy October that includes meetings with Galatasaray, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

READ MORE: FIFA hits back at UEFA over abandoned World Cup investment plan