Pique hopes to finish his career at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona central defender Gerard Pique has insisted that he still loves the club and wants to end his career at the Nou Camp ahead of tomorrow’s El Clasico against Real Madrid, report the Daily Star, despite recent media reports linking him with a return to former club Manchester United.
SEE MORE:
El Clasico combined XI
Real Madrid Barcelona key battles
Burnley v Everton: Live streaming guide and Premier League preview
Pique joined United from Barcelona when he was just 16 and was rated as one of the most impressive young defenders in the world, but played most of his football during a loan spell back in La Liga with Real Zaragoza before returning to the Nou Camp and going on to thoroughly fulfill that potential, making him a player who United fans may well feel slipped through their net.
With United continuing to leak goals and struggling for top class central defenders and Pique having increased competition at the heart of the Barcelona defence this season, recent reports had suggested that a return to Old Trafford was possible, but Pique has insisted that his long term future is in Catalonia:
“But I’ve always said I want to retire here and, if possible, stay here all my career.”
“At this moment I’m not thinking about leaving, and I’m really happy if it’s true that United want me, but I want to stay.”
“I’m a Barcelona fan, I have been since I was a kid, and I want to stay.”
Pique is likely to start against fierce rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu tomorrow, alongside Frenchman Jeremy Mathieu, as Barca look to maintain their stunning record of not having conceded a league goal so far this season, a run they extended with a comfortable 3-0 win over Eibar last weekend.