Piqué picked by United
Thursday, July 1, 2004
Article summary
Manchester United FC have signed Spanish Under-17 international defender Gerard Piqué Bernabéu.
Article body
Manchester United FC have signed Spanish Under-17 international defender Gerard Piqué Bernabéu from FC Barcelona.
International experience
The English side have not revealed the terms of the deal nor the length of the 17-year-old's contract. Piqué represented his country at this summer's 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, helping Spain reach the final where they lost 2-1 to France.
Youth product
Piqué, a centre-half who can also play on the left side of defence, came through the Barcelona youth system but reportedly rejected the offer of a new deal at Camp Nou.
Enke leaving
Another player leaving Barcelona is German goalkeeper Robert Enke, who has had his contract cancelled with 12 months to run. Unable to dislodge first-choice Víctor Valdés, the 26-year-old had had loan spells at both Fenerbahçe SK in Turkey and at CD Tenerife in the Spanish second division last season.
