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Brendan Rodgers compared Joe Allen to Xavi after signing him from Swansea at Liverpool(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Joe Allen was once dubbed the 'Welsh Xavi' by Brendan Rodgers upon his arrival at Liverpool from Swansea City in August 2012.

However, a former teammate from the Welsh national squad rates Allen's skills with the ball as being on par with their celebrated colleague Gareth Bale at the height of his powers.

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Hal Robson-Kanu, who stood alongside Allen and ex-Real Madrid ace Bale during Wales' remarkable journey to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, lauded Allen's abilities during an episode of Ben Foster's 'Fozcast' podcast.

Initially praising Bale and Aaron Ramsey, Robson-Kanu said: "I would also say Joe Allen as well.

"It's a dangerous one because I had the 'Welsh Xavi' tag for a while and that didn't really do me too many favours."

Joe Allen found the comparison with Xavi hard to live up to

The Welsh midfielder also expressed his disappointment over the way his exit from Liverpool was handled, revealing that he discovered the club's acceptance of a £13m offer from Stoke through a friend rather than directly from the club.

The communication wasn't great but as soon as Liverpool accepted an offer I knew what their intentions were for me."

Joe Allen is regarded as one of Wales' best-ever midfielders(Image: 2019 Getty Images)

He acknowledged the need to leave Anfield to secure regular playing time, adding: "Being a regular wasn't going to happen and that's fair enough.

If you look at the quality Liverpool have got in midfield, and maybe the age of the players, I think I'd have been waiting for injuries and suspensions."

After leaving Liverpool, Allen spent six years at Stoke before making a return to Swansea in 2022, where he remains to this day.

He initially hung up his international boots in 2023 due to an injury, but was later summoned back into the fold by Wales manager Craig Bellamy in October last year.

Bellamy, who himself enjoyed two stints at Liverpool, has long been an admirer of Allen, rating him as one of Wales' most exceptional talents.