Former Manchester United and Barcelona star Gerard Pique has set the record straight with his verdict on two of his legendary former club teammates.
Gerard Pique came through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy before he arrived at Manchester United in 2004 as part of the Red Devils’ youth set-up.
Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson thought highly of the 37-year-old Spaniard and Pique was tipped as a long-term prospect at Old Trafford.
However, Pique only managed 23 first-team appearances for United and was unable to displace the partnership of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
The ex-United defender lifted a Premier League title, a Champions League trophy and a League Cup at Old Trafford before Barcelona re-signed him in 2008.
Pique, who cost Barcelona around £5m, had a prolific playing career at the Camp Nou and the Spaniard made a whopping 616 appearances for the La Liga outfit.
Pique’s stance made clear
Gerard Pique was at Manchester United when former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo made a real name for himself under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 2010 World Cup winner came through the Barcelona academy alongside Lionel Messi and later shared the pitch with the Argentine icon in the senior team.
Speaking to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Pique insisted that United legend Cristiano Ronaldo was the “best of humans” in his eyes.
However, the Barcelona legend felt that Lionel Messi did “not belong to this planet” and saw first-hand the Inter Miami superstar do “amazing things” in training.
“It was always different. Cristiano was the best of humans, Leo does not belong to this planet,” Pique said.
“I saw him train every day doing amazing things, there will be no other with his speed of thought.
“He arrived at the age of thirteen and played in the same way both in the academy and with the first team.”
Pique almost signed for another club
Pique enjoyed incredible success during his Barcelona career, including lifting nine La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies and seven Copa del Reys.
The former Barcelona centre-back also had a prolific playing career with Spain and captured a European Championship and a World Cup with La Roja.
Pique called it time on his legendary club career in 2022 after Barcelona’s 2-0 La Liga win over Almeria at the Camp Nou.
The ex-Spain international revealed that he almost came close to signing for Serie A side Juventus while he was still at United, but he later walked back on the decision.
“The last year in Manchester, before going to Barca, I was about to move to Juventus,” Pique said.
“When I returned home, I was no longer tempted. It was 2007.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/5WYgveE