Pique open to move abroad, but not to Manchester City

Mark Scott

Gerard Pique: Rules out move to Manchester City

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has ruled out a reunion with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City this summer, but hinted he could move away from the Camp Nou in the near future.

The Citizens have been linked with moves for a vast array of elite European talent as they prepare to start a new era under the Spaniard next season, with Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte and Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen the latest to be mentioned by the national press.

One player who insists he will not be re-joining his former Barcelona boss though is ex-United defender Pique, who admits he wants to play abroad again before the end of his career but has no intention of representing the blue half of Manchester.

The 28-year-old, who spent four years at Old Trafford before becoming a key member of Guardiola’s all-conquering Barcelona, said on Periscope: “My love for Manchester United is too great for me to sign for City, even though Pep is a great coach.”

That love does not mean he is thinking about one day making a return to United either, but he says he is keen to experience another league at some point.

The Spain international, who scored the winning goal in Barca’s 2-1 win over Sevilla on Sunday night, said: “I’m very happy in Barcelona. United are my second club, but my future is at Barca. I’m very proud to play at Barcelona. I think it’s the best club in the world.

“I would like to try a different league when I’ve got a few years to go before retiring. I don’t know if it will be Colombia, I’d like that for Shakira, but nobody can predict the future.”