Xavi on the bench for Barcelona
Action Images / Lee Smith
In the modern era, there are few better midfielders than Xavi Hernandez. The Spaniard was the beating heart of an iconic Barcelona side that is considered among the greatest sports teams of all time.
At Barca, he won five La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey titles and three Champions League titles, while also lifting the World Cup with Spain and two European Championships. In short, there were very few opponents Xavi came up against and struggled to deal with.
That said, there was one Englishman who made quite the impression.
Xavi Backed English Goalkeeper to 'Succeed at Barcelona'
Xavi of Barcelona looks on
Xavi of Barcelona looks on
Back in 2013, Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes was expected to leave at the end of the season. With his future in doubt, Xavi spoke about wanting an English player to come in and take the job.
As quoted by the Metro, the Barcelona star was keen on seeing Fraser Forster join him at the Camp Nou. He explained:
"I think the players all know about the Forster interest – and it is a player we know very well,’ said Xavi.
"I can’t say that I watch him every week – but when we have played Celtic he has shown that he is a world-class goalkeeper.
"From what I have seen he has everything to succeed at a club like Barcelona – and with his Champions League performances for Celtic I am sure there will be more than one big club interested in him."
Xavi during his time in the Barcelona dugout
Xavi during his time in the Barcelona dugout
Messi Also Was Impressed By Celtic Star Forster
In hindsight, it seems quite strange to see one of the greatest midfielders of all time speaking so highly of a player like Forster. After all, the Englishman would only win six caps for his country between 2013 and 2016.
Forster left Celtic for Southampton in a £10m deal within a year of Xavi's comments and spent eight years with the English club, including one back on loan at Celtic, before heading to Tottenham as back-up. He departed Spurs in 2025 and now, aged 38, plays for Bournemouth, although he is yet to make a competitive appearance for the Cherries.
The reason Xavi was such a fan, however, was that they'd met in the Champions League and the Englishman always seemed to step up. Playing against Barcelona on four occasions in total, Forster delivered perhaps the performance of his career when he helped his side pick up a shock 2-1 win in 2012.
It was so good, in fact, Lionel Messi later would claim it was the best goalkeeping display he ever saw, noting: "The performances of Fraser Forster against us were talked about for a long time. There was one game in Scotland where he was not human. It is the best goalkeeping performance I have seen."
Adding to this, Xavi would also go on to name the former Celtic star in his all-time British XI. He explained: "Barcelona have met Celtic four times in recent seasons, and every time Forster put in an incredible performance. In the games we’ve played, he’s made some of the best saves I have ever seen."
While Forster didn't quite go on to have the career many expected of him, he will forever be able to proudly recall the night he left the likes of Xavi and Messi glowing with admiration.