Piqué plumps for Barcelona return
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Article summary
Manchester United FC and FC Barcelona have reached agreement for the transfer of Spain U21 centre-back Gerard Piqué to the Camp Nou on a four-year contract.
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Four-year deal
With the centre-back partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić limiting his Old Trafford opportunities, Piqué has opted to leave the English champions permanently and sign a four-year Barcelona deal under new coach Josep Guardiola. The former Camp Nou trainee said only last week: "I like the idea of being able to play in a Barcelona shirt again."
United career
Piqué, who helped Spain win the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and is now an U21 international, joined United in 2004 and made a total of 23 first-team appearances. He helped the Red Devils on their way to winning this season's UEFA Champions League with goals against FC Dynamo Kyiv and AS Roma. However, Piqué remained down the defensive pecking order and had already spent the 2006/07 campaign back in Spain, on loan at Real Zaragoza. Barcelona midfielder Andrés Iniesta welcomed his return, saying: "He has come on a lot, both with United and with Zaragoza. We hope he will continue to develop with us."
