FCBARCELONA.CAT

19.05.2009 19:47

Rome’s a very special game for Piqué

Jaume Marcet

Gerard Piqué faces one of the most special games of his short career so far next Wednesday, not only is he set to play in a Champions League Final, he’ll also be up against his ex-team mates at Manchester United.

When Gerard Piqué decided in the summer of 2004 to try his luck in England and leave the Barca youth set up to join Manchester United he could never have imagined that just five years later he’d be lining up for the Catalans against United in the final of the European Cup.

Early promise

Piqué joined Barca at the youngest possible age, moving swiftly through the “alevíns” to the youth team and impressing the academy trainers and coaches with his ability to read the game and his leadership in defence. In 1997 he was one of the very special group of youngsters coming through the system that included Cesc Fàbregas, Leo Messi, Víctor Vázquez and Marc Pedraza.

Off to England

In 2004 he decided to follow in the footsteps of his teammate Cesc and take up the offer of a chance to play in the Premier League, but while Fabregas plumped for Arsenal, Pique preferred Sir Alex Ferguson’s offer and moved to Manchester, where he began in the United Reserves. During his four years at United Pique came back for a spell in Spain, on loan to Zaragoza in the 06-07 season.

Respect for the boss

Amongst his teammates at United who Pique could be coming up against in Rome are the keeper Van der Sar, England defender Rio Ferdinand, veteran midfielders Scholes and Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo, but it’s clear that the man who most impressed Pique was the boss, Sir Alex Ferguson. Soon after his arrival in England, Pique confessed: “I didn’t expect to be treated so well by him. He’s taken an interest in everything about me and I feel that he’s treated me spectacularly well”.