Laurent Blanc: Perfect XI

World Cup winner Laurent Blanc picks his Perfect XI of former team-mates and opponents, back in August 2006.

Goalkeeper
Fabien Barthez

Firstly, I have to have him in my side because he is my very good friend. I trust him very much, and even now he is one of the best three or four goalkeepers in the world. If I am being honest, I really don’t understand why Manchester United let him leave a few years ago. It made no sense.

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Sam Pilger

Sam Pilger is a freelance sports writer who writes for Forbes, FourFourTwo, Optus Sport, The Athletic and The Times Magazine. He was previously the deputy editor of FourFourTwo magazine (lucky him), still contributes regularly and has written several books, including Manchester United's Best XI and For Club and Country with Gary and Phil Neville.