By Tom Finn
November 6, 2014
Speculation in Spain is suggesting that Barcelona is preparing to sell defender Gerard Pique to a big English club after the Spanish international was left on the bench by trainer Luis Enrique for Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Ajax in Amsterdam.
This follows on from Pique also being left in the bench for Barca’s shock 0-1 loss at the weekend to La Liga minnows Celta Viga at the Nou Camp.
The 27-year-old has been left with questions surrounding his future with the Catalan giants ever since the arrival of new coach Enrique and the signing of Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu for £19 million in the summer.
Even though Mathieu is out injured for three weeks Enrique continues to snub Pique for a place in the team leading to rumours in the Barcelona based SPORT newspaper that Manchester United, Man City and Chelsea have all put in offers for Pique ranging “Between” £20-£24 million.
The Daily Mail carries the story saying that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho sees Pique as a replacement for John Terry and that he hopes to lure him to London in the same way he did his former Barcelona teammate Cesc Fabregas in the summer.
Manchester City meanwhile will try and sign him as early as January claim SPORT after having failed to sign him in the summer, and as for United it is well known that new manager Louis van Gaal is looking to beef up his defence and if what Pique has said in the past is anything to go by United have a great chance of signing him after already having been with the club for the 2004-2005 season.
