Gerard Pique hopes Harry Maguire can help Man Utd win Premier League title - EXCLUSIVE
Posted Friday, August 30, 2019 by Express.co.uk
Barcelona star Gerard Pique tells Express Sport Harry Maguire can help transform Manchester United into Premier League title contenders.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique hopes Harry Maguire will help transform Manchester United into Premier League title contenders.
United broke the world record transfer fee for a defender with the £80million signing of the former Leicester City ace this summer, which was £5m more than Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk.
Pique was not surprised to see his former side splash the cash on the England international.
The Spaniard feels the Red Devils followed precedent set when they purchased Rio Ferdinand from Leeds for £30m in 2002.
"It happened before with Van Dijk and before about ten years ago with Rio Ferdinand," Pique told Express Sport while at the PokerStars European Poker Tour in Barcelona.
"Culturally they invest a lot in good defenders and Harry Maguire is a great defender.
"I hope that they can be at the top again.
"Manchester United in the last few years they have been fighting to qualify for the Champions League but they have to be trying to win the Premier League. I hope with this signing they can return to the top."
Gerard Pique thinks Virgil van Dijk will be a Ballon d'Or contender (Image: GETTY)
Gerard Pique spoke to Express Sport at PokerStars European Poker Tour (Image: PokerStars / Ian Stoddart)
United still has a special place in Pique's heart after spending four years at Old Trafford before returning to Barcelona in 2008.
"It was a great time there. I didn't play as much as I wanted to but I was 17 and very young," he added.
"It was a very important step in my career for the future.
"I had an amazing time there with team-mates like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs.
Harry Maguire joined Man Utd for £80million (Image: GETTY)
Gerard Pique thinks Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is doing a good job as Man Utd boss (Image: GETTY)
"To have the experience of playing with those experienced players helped me a lot for these years when I played here in Barcelona."
While learning his trade at United, Pique was in the same squad as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who now manages the club.
"I saw him last year in the Champions League tie and I think he's a great lad and a great guy," Pique added.
"He is doing a very good job at Manchester United, let's see this season how it goes for him and the team."
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