Fraser Forster reveals Celtic truth over Barcelona transfer chat

Fraser Forster reveals Celtic truth over Barcelona transfer chat after Lionel Messi revelation

Fraser Forster may be a benchwarmer for Tottenham these days. However, the Celtic icon was previously linked with a spectacular transfer to Barcelona.

That’s because Lionel Messi said his goalkeeping performance against Barcelona in 2012 was the best he’d ever seen. Forster was superb between the sticks as the Hoops stunned Europe by defeating one of the best teams in history at Parkhead. Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt cemented their place in Celtic history by scoring in an astonishing 2-1 victory over the Spanish giants.

But it was Forster’s goal-scoring exploits that helped Neil Lennon’s team earn a remarkable three points in the 2012/13 Champions League group stages. Spain’s media dubbed the England international ‘La Gran Muralla’ – the Great Wall – in a performance that captivated Messi.

Speaking in 2015, the GOAT said: “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. When Victor Valdes said he was leaving (Barcelona) we even talked about him playing here. I was sure he would end up at Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United.”

While Messi hoped to partner up with the ex-Newcastle goalkeeper at the Nou Camp, the deal never materialized, and Forster finally returned to the Premier League, joining Southampton. However, his performances that season fueled suspicion that the 6ft 7in was a legitimate target for Barcelona. So, was there any substance to the rumors?

During a recent appearance on the Peter Crouch podcast, the 35-year-old was questioned if he ever spoke with Barcelona. He laughed: “Yeah, I kept DM-ing them! I’ve seen those quotes and so on, but I don’t think it got that far. But obviously, when someone like that says something like that about you, it means a lot and demonstrates that you are taking the correct steps for a change.

He continued, “Champions League nights there are simply so wonderful. The atmosphere is fantastic. If you only have time to attend one game, I recommend Celtic Park on a Champions League night. I believe we played Barcelona away two weeks previously and lost in the final minute. But that gave us a lot of confidence, and we felt like we could be anything at Celtic Park. We had a great changing room, and the vibe among the lads was fantastic. Clearly, everything came together that night.

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