Barcelona ace Pique had a blinder at United!

GERARD Pique says his fouryear spell at United shaped him into the player that he is today.

The central defender joined the Reds from Barcelona as a 17-year-old in 2004, but returned to the Nou Camp having failed to regularly break into Sir Alex Ferguson’s firstteam.

United’s incredible defensive quality made it difficult for Pique to get competitive action at Old Trafford, but despite only making 13 senior appearances for the club, he says the spell is what made him as a player.

“When I left my friends there to spend four years at Manchester United it was tough,” Pique said. “At the same time that was a great experience for me.

“I grew up a lot there. I am who I am because of the period I had at Manchester United, even though I didn’t play as much as I wanted to.

“But in my position there were two centre-backs who were among the top three in the world at the time [Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic].

“But being at home, and having the career I have had at home, has been a great pleasure and I am very proud of it.”

Pique has previously been linked with a return to Old Trafford one day, however, he insists he has no desire to leave Barcelona before he retires.

He added: “Right now my thoughts are that every year has to be my last year. I want to dedicate as much as I can to football.

“I want to end my career in the best way possible. I don’t know if it will be one more year, two more years, five more years. But I am happy at Barcelona.”