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The Premier League, being arguably the most exciting among the top five leagues, has seen many legends grace the English top flight with their presence. The Premier League has continued to rise to new heights since entering the scene in 1992. Due to the excitement surrounding it, the Premier League has generated record viewership and bagged lucrative TV deals over the years.
The rise of Spain as a superpower in football since 2008 saw many world beaters dominate the biggest stages of world football. Spain's golden generation bagged two consecutive EURO cups and a World Cup in the span of four years which made the world sit up and take notice of their dominance. Many Spanish legends have dominated the biggest stages of club football over the years.
Playing in the Premier League is a dream come true for many, yet there are some Spanish superstars who have never featured in the Premier League.
Let's take a look at
Top 5 Spanish players to have never played in the Premier League.
#5 Raul Gonzalez Blanco
Popularly known as 'El Angel de Madrid', Raul will always be remembered as one of the best Spanish strikers of all time. Raul's career at Real Madrid was nothing short of legendary as he went on to win 16 trophies in 16 seasons with the club.
Raul rose up in the ranks of Atletico Madrid when he was just a teenager but soon moved to Real Madrid. Raul made an immediate impact with Real Madrid's 'C' squad and was handed first team debut when he was just 17 years old in 1994.
Since then, Raul's importance with the Spanish giants was never in doubt as managers and 'Galacticos' came and went. Raul helped Real Madrid win three UEFA Champions League titles, among other trophies, in his 16 seasons with the club before moving to Schalke.
Raul scored in the two finals of the UEFA Champions League and currently sits second on the all-time top scorer list in Spain and in Real Madrid's history. It is unfortunate that he didn't feature in the Premier League.
#4 Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos, one of the all-time great defenders of the game, recently joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer from Real Madrid. Ramos was the first Spanish signing of president Florentino Perez in 2005 as the gutsy defender of Seville looked tailor-made for Los Blancos.
After moving from Sevilla, Sergio Ramos quickly took charge of Real Madrid's defense. The initial years were difficult for the Spaniard but he kept proving his worth in the big stages with age and experience.
Ramos' career in the Spanish capital was not short of controversy. The former Real Madrid captain holds the record for most red cards in the Spanish top flight. But he has also amassed a whopping 22 trophies with the club, including four Champions League titles during his 16 year tenure.
Only two players in history have scored more goals in the Champions League finals than Ramos. Also, nobody else has captained Los Blancos to three Champions League titles except Ramos. His 92nd minute equalizer against rivals Atletico Madrid in the 2014 final is something which will be forever etched in the memory of Madridistas.
There is still time for Sergio Ramos to feature in the Premier League but it is highly unlikely due to his age.
#3 Andres Iniesta
Considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Andres Iniesta was one of the key members of both Spain and Barcelona's golden generation. Iniesta was part of Barcelona's fabled academy, 'La Masia'. He was also the architect behind the renowned 'tiki-taka' style of football under Pep Guardiola.
Iniesta was a part of the Barcelona team which won two historic trebles in 2009 and 2015. The Spanish maestro is known for dominating the biggest teams with effortless ease and rendered opponents useless with his abilities. Iniesta was man of the match in the 2010 World Cup final, where he scored the winning goal for Spain against Netherlands.
Iniesta was integral to the success of both Spain and Barcelona and his decorated career with Spain and Barcelona is a testament to that fact. He won a whopping 35 trophies with the Catalan giants. He also racked up 57 goals and 138 assists for the club before eventually moving to Vissel Kobe in Japan. A legend like him would've only elevated the greatness of the Premier League with his presence.
#2 Iker casillas
One of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of world football, Iker Casillas is another legendary player who has never set foot in the Premier League.
Casillas joined Real Madrid's youth academy as a teenager and made his debut for the first team in 1999. The former Los Blancos captain then featured in 725 official matches with the club over a span of 16 years. He won 19 titles for the club.
Casillas was also an undisputed member for Spain as they went on to achieve a World Cup and two European Championships in their golden era. Casillas was cherished and respected by fans and rivals alike. His saves against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League final in 2002 remain fresh in the memory of football fans.
Casillas had a bitter end to his Real Madrid career after falling out with former coach Jose Mourinho and moving to FC Porto in 2015.
#1 Xavi Hernandez
Like his compatriot Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez was the chief driving force for all conquering Spain and Barcelona teams in the last decade. Under Pep Guardiola, Xavi engineered Barcelona's famous 'tiki-taka' style of play. He destroyed opponents with his unparalleled vision, superb passing range, control and accuracy.
Xavi scored 85 goals and assisted 185 times in 767 appearances for Barcelona but his game is not something which can be justified by numbers. His trophy-laden career properly depicts the legend of Xavi in his 17 year tenure at the Nou Camp.
Xavi never moved to any other club in Europe and the Premier League is no exception. After a glorious campaign, Xavi moved to Qatari club Al Sadd in 2015 where he is now the manager.
