That clearly suited Gordon.
Digging deeper, according to Opta, the England international has had a significantly better shot conversion rate in the Champions League (38.5%) compared to the Premier League (12.5%) in 2025-26.
Gordon has also had more shots (three) and touches in the opposition box (6.1); attempted more dribbles (3.9); and had a better dribble success rate (45.5%) per 90 minutes in Europe than when playing in the English top flight.
He averaged a goal or assist every 64 minutes in the Champions League in contrast to just one every 227 minutes in the Premier League in the campaign just gone.
The difference in numbers reflects some of the opponents Gordon has come up against after facing some particularly solid Premier League sides throughout the campaign.
But it also illustrates how he has tended to raise his game in Europe, which feeds into a wider point that Gordon’s best matches for Newcastle have often come against the biggest teams over the years.
The test at Barcelona will be to deliver week in, week out, particularly given the level of competition for a starting place, as he battles it out with Raphinha among others.
According to BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague, Barcelona have also opened talks to sign Julian Alvarez, with an agreement in place with the Argentine forward.
But Atletico Madrid are likely to turn down the 90m euros Barca are expected to offer.
Whoever else does come in, Gordon can expect tough competition.
“That will be a challenge [Gordon] will relish to take his game to the next level,” Ritchie added.
“I don’t think the stage or badge will change him as a person. He will always have this inner drive, this mentality, to be the best.”