ANTHONY GORDON SLAMS "ABSOLUTE NONSENSE" CLAIMS FROM WAYNE ROONEY AND ALAN SHEARER
Anthony Gordon calls for pundits to "do better" as he prepares for Newcastle’s high-stakes Champions League second leg.
Anthony Gordon has finally addressed the remarks made by Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer regarding his absence against Barcelona. Gordon, Newcastle’s winger, missed starting in their Champions League round of 16 clash with Barca due to illness. Despite being the competition's second top scorer this season with 10 goals, he only managed to appear for 23 minutes.
Newcastle drew 1-1 in the first leg, but Gordon’s late appearance stirred up some controversy. Shearer questioned the decision, pointing out that if a player is fit enough to train in the morning, it’s hard to see why they wouldn’t start such a crucial game against Barcelona at home. “It would take something extraordinary to keep me out of this game tonight,” Shearer said.
Rooney, working as a pundit that night, also cast doubt, mentioning that Gordon had avoided shaking hands before the match, saying he didn’t want to risk passing anything on, yet still went into the dressing room with his teammates.
Gordon didn’t stay silent for long. After starting and scoring in Newcastle’s win over Chelsea, he pushed back against what he called “absolute nonsense". Speaking on Match of the Day, he explained that the decision not to play him was the manager’s, which he accepted, but strongly denied any suggestion that he didn’t want to play in such an important match. He firmly rejected Rooney’s claim about skipping handshakes, explaining he changed alone in a tiny dressing room and simply wasn’t around other players before the game.
He wrapped up by saying, “I think they need to do better at what they are doing,” highlighting how unfounded these claims were.
Looking at Gordon’s season, it’s clear he’s in top form. His 10 Champions League goals are a club record for Newcastle players, and with another five goals in the Premier League plus one in the FA Cup, he has tallied 16 goals and five assists across all competitions this season. That’s his highest contribution so far, surpassing previous personal bests.
With his recent goal against Chelsea, Gordon appears ready to return to full fitness, likely on the starting sheet as Newcastle travels to Spain. The Magpies will be hungry to overturn the tie and pull off a memorable victory in the second leg.
AGENT GIUSEPPE RISO REVEALS SANDRO TONALI’S DESIRE TO JOIN ARSENAL OR MAN CITY
Sandro Tonali’s agent Giuseppe Riso confirms the midfielder's goal is to join a top club like Arsenal or Manchester City.
Sandro Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, really stirred up talk about the Newcastle midfielder’s future. He’s made it clear Tonali wants to play for Arsenal or Manchester City, and honestly, he’s been aiming for a move to a top Premier League club ever since he landed in Newcastle from AC Milan last year.
Riso gave an open interview to Italian media, turning up the heat on Tonali’s situation just as the midfielder missed Newcastle’s win over Chelsea through illness. That same bug, by the way, has hit Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon lately, too. Eddie Howe hopes Tonali’s back for their big Champions League tie against Barcelona midweek, but with Riso’s comments making headlines, you can bet Howe isn’t thrilled.
When Riso was asked about Tonali moving to another club competing for titles like Arsenal or City, he didn’t hide his ambition. “Exactly,” he said. “That’s been the goal since he moved to England to make him a star player. I think he’s one of the most valuable Italian players in the world.”
Riso also talked about Tonali’s prospects at the upcoming World Cup, saying, “I don’t know, but it’s very likely. Everyone’s waiting for the World Cup; then a thousand scenarios will unfold, but everything starts after that.”
Digging into how Tonali ended up at Newcastle, Riso revealed Newcastle’s nearly limitless financial strength made the deal possible. The club picked up Tonali for about £52 million from Milan before news broke about his betting ban. Riso says he had no idea about that issue and adds, “We would have intervened otherwise.”
He thinks the transfer worked out well, though. Riso praised Newcastle and its supporters for welcoming Tonali, calling the response "incredible". He pointed out that Tonali got very different treatment in Italy, but Milan fans, he says, always protected him.
Now, Tonali’s future is anyone’s guess. talkSPORT reports Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Italian clubs are all keeping watch. Newcastle doesn’t have to sell; Tonali’s contract runs until 2029, with an option for another year, and they value him around £80-£100 million. But ideally, they want to hold on to him.
Tonali’s been central for Howe this season, racking up three goals and seven assists in 46 matches across all competitions. If anything does happen, it sounds like a long summer saga is brewing, and plenty of clubs will be ready if Newcastle decides to let him go.
BRUNO GUIMARAES REJUVENATES IN BRAZIL FOLLOWING HIGH STAKES NEWCASTLE EUROPEAN STALEMATE
Bruno Guimaraes reacts to Newcastle’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Barcelona while confirming he will miss the return leg.
Bruno Guimaraes has shared his thoughts after Newcastle United’s dramatic Champions League draw with Barcelona.
For a while, it looked like the Magpies would head to the Camp Nou next Wednesday with a narrow 1-0 lead, thanks to Harvey Barnes’ late strike in the 86th minute.
Then, things got wild. Four minutes of stoppage time went up, but in the fifth, referee Marco Guida pointed to the spot after Dani Olmo tumbled a little too easily from Malick Thiaw’s touch. Lamine Yamal, who Lewis Hall had kept quiet all night, stepped up and buried the penalty with the very last kick of the game.
It was a gut punch for Newcastle. Still, they looked a lot sharper than the last time they faced Barcelona back in September, when they lost 2-1 in the group stage.
Back then, Guimaraes wore the captain’s armband, but this time he had to watch from afar. He’s recovering from a hamstring injury in Brazil, stuck on the sidelines but still cheering his teammates on.
After the match, Guimaraes posted on Instagram: “Tremendous effort from the boys; couldn’t ask for more! Very unlucky in the end. We go again next week.”
As for his injury, Guimaraes will miss next week’s return leg in Barcelona, plus the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland four days later. He’s also set to sit out Brazil’s friendlies against France and Croatia. The hope is he’ll be ready after the international break, when Newcastle head to Crystal Palace on April 11.
Manager Eddie Howe summed things up: “I think the time frame is what it is; there’s no miracle cure for him. We’re looking at the end of the international break in March for his return. It’s a big blow for us at a key time. He’s gutted, but we can’t change it. We just have to get him back safely, and others need to step up while he’s out.
“We’ll miss everything he brings. He’s scored, created, and controlled games for us he’s just a special player. Losing him is tough, but there’s always a way forward, and it’s a chance for others to show what they can do.”
It’s now been a month since Guimarães last played he limped off late against Tottenham after helping Newcastle grab a 2-1 win. Sitting out is something new for him; before this, he’d barely missed a game.
When he found out how long he’d be out, Guimaraes wrote: “For the first time in 10 years of my career, I have to spend some time away from the pitch. I’m really sad about it, but I trust that God knows best. This muscle injury will keep me out for a few weeks, but I believe it’ll make me stronger and more prepared for what’s ahead. Thank you all for the support, messages, and concern. See you soon.”
Must Read
