MX23RW : Friday, November 29 09:16:41| >> :60:651:651:

Gerard Pique brands Manchester "a very special place"

Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique says that Manchester United "will always" be his second club.

Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique has revealed that he will always look back fondly on his time in Manchester with Manchester United.

The Spanish international moved to Old Trafford at the age of 17 from Barcelona, but returned to the Camp Nou in 2008.

"Manchester is a very special place for me. I arrived when I was still just a kid, I was 17 and although I would have liked to have played more and been an important member of the side, I learned a lot during my three years here," he told reporters at a press conference.

"As I have always said, United will always be my second club, after Barca. Arsenal were the first club to come for me, the previous year they had signed Cesc [Fabregas] but Barcelona weren't happy about it and blocked my move there.

"Then Manchester United appeared, Alex Ferguson welcomed me with open arms, he convinced me, over dinner to join. For me United is the biggest club in England, at least during the past few years."

Pique's Barcelona side are currently in Manchester for their last-16 Champions League clash with Manchester City.

ID:139106: cacheID:139106:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2156:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Neymar celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the opening goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou on October 26, 2013
Read Next:
Pique warns City of 'multiple' threats
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Dolphins
17-30
Packers
8pm
Raiders
@
Chiefs
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!