Xavi Hernandez Names English Stars Who Could Have Excelled at Barcelona
Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez identified Steven Gerrard and other members of England’s ‘Golden Generation’ as players who could have thrived in Barcelona’s legendary squad during their peak years.
Described as “one of the best midfielders in history” on Barcelona’s official website, Xavi enjoyed an illustrious career with the Catalan giants, securing eight La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies during his 17-year tenure with the first team. Throughout this period, he shared the pitch with football icons like Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Ronaldinho.
Interestingly, while Barcelona has had players from various nationalities, Xavi never played alongside an English teammate during his time at Camp Nou. However, when questioned about which English players he would have welcomed to Barcelona, he had several names in mind.
During a 2014 interview with Match of the Day, Xavi stated: “I would have in my team any top technically-gifted player. John Barnes was one, Paul Gascoigne another.”
He elaborated further: “Gerrard could have played for Barcelona, as could Lampard. They’re players with top-quality technique. Here we prioritise technique over the physical aspect of the game. So a lot of English players could play for Barcelona.”
English Football Influences on Barcelona’s Midfield Maestro
When asked about his British football idols, Xavi revealed: “I remember John Barnes, Paul Gascoigne, and Matt Le Tissier. We used to watch a lot of English football. They used to show highlights and Le Tissier scored some spectacular goals.”
The Spanish midfielder also reminisced about watching Gascoigne’s memorable performances during the European Championships in England, particularly highlighting the “sombrero” goal against Scotland at Wembley as “spectacular.”
As for more contemporary English talents, Xavi named former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere as an “amazing player” and recognized Raheem Sterling as having “a great future ahead of him.”
His admiration extended to established Premier League legends as well: “Then there’s the older guys such as Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and John Terry. They’re part of English history, winning every single title.”
Despite his appreciation for English football and its players, Xavi maintained his loyalty to Barcelona when asked about potentially playing in the Premier League:
- “The Premier League is very attractive. Liverpool, for example, is a team that has something special – the stadium, the fans, everything.”
- “But I always prioritise Barcelona – it’s my life, it’s my world. I am lucky and wouldn’t change it for anything.”
- “Matt Le Tissier never left Southampton, so I think it was a good thing for him, however nowadays there are few cases of this.”
- “I have had the luck of being with Barcelona for so many years.”
This insight from one of football’s greatest midfielders offers a fascinating glimpse into how Barcelona’s technical philosophy could have accommodated English talents who are often stereotyped as being more physically oriented than technically refined.
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