Transfer speculation: Gerard Pique to Barcelona
Manchester United joined in the fun of picking off the potential stars from continental teams in the earlier part of this decade; and in 2004 the two big captures were Giuseppe Rossi and Gerard Pique. Rossi was acquired from Parma's reserve team and reluctantly sold on to Villarreal for £7m last summer; Pique was a trainee at Barcelona and it seems possible that he will return to Catalonia for a similar fee this summer.
United looked likely to lose Wes Brown this summer, which would have left Pique as the next in line behind Ferdinand and Vidic, but Brown's late change of heart has probably pushed Pique towards the exit.
Pique is an elegant defender, with a good range of passing and is a threat in the air from set pieces (scoring a goal at Roma in this season's Champions' League in that manner). Last season he was loaned out to Real Zaragoza and played most of the season as a defensive midfielder - a position that may yet be his future.
The Daily Mail today report that Pique is to join Barcelona for £6 million, and the new Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola sees the 21-year-old as the long-term partner for captain Carlos Puyol in the centre of defence; which does suggest that Pique would face a couple more years of frustration before he is likely to be a first choice.
Perhaps better for Pique would be to move to a club that could offer his immediate, regular football - perhaps linking up with Rossi at Villarreal, returning to Zaragoza or even moving in England to a team like Portsmouth (who have ageing centre-halves) or Newcastle United (who need decent defenders, in fact Newcastle always seem to need defenders).
Pique is a tall, elegant, versatile, modern player; comfortable right across the back four or as a defensive midfielder - it would be a pity if a sentimental return to Barcelona saw more frustration when what he really needs are games - games he seems unlikely to get at Manchester United - before his likely progression to full international status with Spain.
