Barcelona legend Xavi had no doubts when naming the one club he regrets not playing for during his career.
Xavi spent almost his entire playing career at Camp Nou, having graduated through their La Masia youth system.
He won 25 trophies during a legendary 17-year stint as a professional, and established himself as one of the greatest central midfielders of all-time.
The Spaniard was a key part of Pep Guardiola's tiki-taka, possession-based system, and translated his success onto the international stage as he won the European Championships in 2008 and 2012 as well as the 2010 World Cup.
Advert
Xavi departed Barca at the age of 35 in 2015, and spent the final four years of his career playing for Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League.
He admitted in 2023 that he almost joined Manchester United as a youngster at Camp Nou, having struggled in his attempts to replace Guardiola in midfield.
He was also offered a contract by then European powerhouses AC Milan in 1999, but turned it down.
In a 2011 interview with Sid Lowe for The Guardian, Xavi praised the qualities of English football and said that, if he was ever to leave Barcelona, he would want to move to a club in England.
The midfielder spoke glowingly of Arsenal's playing style under Arsene Wenger - Barca were due to take on the Gunners in the Champions League later that week - but it was another Premier League side he named as his 'dream' alternative to Barcelona.
"England really is the birthplace, the heart and soul of football," he said. "If Barcelona had Liverpool's fans, or Arsenal's, or United's, we'd have won 20 Champions Leagues! OK, so that's an exaggeration, but I've never seen anything like it.
"In England, footballers are respected more, the game is more noble, there's less cheating. Every Spaniard who goes loves it - and comes back a better player.
"Looking back, I loved John Barnes and Chris Waddle was buenisimo [open-mouthed, eyes gleaming]. [Matt] Le Tissier!
"Although their style was different I liked Roy Keane and Paul Ince together, too.
"That United team was great - my English team. If I'd gone anywhere, it would have been there."
Topics: Xavi, Barcelona, Premier League, La Liga, Football
Ryan Smart