Barcelona legend Gerard Pique revealed one Premier League team tried to sign him before Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United hijacked a move for him.
Former Manchester United defender Gerard Pique was snapped up from Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy and brought to Old Trafford in 2004.
Sir Alex Ferguson thought highly of the 37-year-old Spaniard and the legendary former United boss saw Pique as a long-term prospect at Old Trafford.
However, Pique was limited to 23 appearances at the Red Devils and the Barcelona legend was unable to establish himself ahead of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
During his time at Old Trafford, the former Barcelona and United centre-back lifted a Premier League, a Champions League and a League Cup.
United legend Ferguson allowed Pique to leave Old Trafford and Barcelona signed the Spaniard for a fee of around £5m in 2008.
Pique on team that wanted to sign him
Gerard Pique made a sensational impact on his return to the Camp Nou and the former Manchester United player hoovered up the major silverware.
The Barcelona and Spain legend lifted nine La Liga titles, three Champions Leagues and seven Copa del Reys during his spell at the Camp Nou.
Pique, who retired from football in 2022, had a formidable partnership with Barcelona legend Carles Puyol and made 616 appearances for the La Liga club.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues show, the former Spain international could have signed for one other club before Sir Alex Ferguson swooped in for him.
Pique admitted that legendary former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was interested in him and the Gunners tried to land him when he was still at the La Masia academy.
“So, they [Arsenal] were trying to arrive [at] a deal with Barcelona and it took more time than we wanted to, so Manchester United arrived and said, ‘Listen, we want you, let’s make a decision right now,’ and I decided to go there,” he said, as per Sportskeeda.
Pique reveals Arsenal wanted him and Barcelona legend
Despite his departure from United, Pique revealed the influence that Ferguson had on him and how the legendary Scotsman was like a father to him.
“Alex Ferguson was a second dad to me,” he told Euro Leagues.
“He had that quality of really taking care of the young ones that were coming through. At the time they had a lot of young talent and Cristiano Ronaldo had just arrived, too.”
Speaking on Arsenal and Wenger, Pique admitted that the Gunners also tried their hand at signing Barcelona icon Lionel Messi.
“And it’s true that later on I think Arsene also tried to sign Messi – but he didn’t have a chance,” he said.