Xavi reveals he follows Middlesbrough and is impressed by Sheffield United fans

Xavi wearing the colours of an English team he follows - Middlesbrough.

Boro have Aitor Karanka in charge, and Xavi keeps an eye out for them as a result.

The two played against each other when Karanka represented Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid, and Karanka was also a coach at Real Madrid prior to moving to England.

Xavi also admitted he was impressed by the manner in which teams like Sheffield United still attract significant attendances, despite playing in the third tier of English football.

He said: “I follow Middlesbrough because Aitor Karanka is there.

“I met a boy the other day. English. He was wearing a Barca shirt but I asked him who he supported. He said: ‘Sheffield United’. I know them, they have 20,000 fans in the third division. That’s incredible. You get that in England.

“I watched some of a game with Charlton the other day. There was football on television, yet the stadium was packed with supporters. Incredible.

“If that was in Catalonia, Olot vs. Reus, then there were would be a few people there and the families of the players.”