Barcelona ‘doubts’ in dressing room could give Man Utd incentive to pounce in January
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Gerard Pique’s situation at Barcelona may well be the perfect opportunity for Manchester United to pounce in January if they look to offload their star defender. The Catalonians are in dire straights financially and are in desperate need of cash.
Barcelona’s woes off the pitch have been mirrored on it this season and Ronald Koeman’s side slipped to ninth in the La Liga table after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Barca have now won just three of their opening seven La Liga games this term. They have also been defeated in their first two Champions League encounters.
The Spanish giants were condemned to a 3-0 defeat by Bayern Munich as their European season got underway last month, before Benfica dished out another 3-0 humiliation last week.
Pique has only started four La Liga matches this season and called out the Barca fans in light of the Bayern loss after they had booed Sergi Roberto.
“The whistles towards Sergi Roberto are hurtful,” Pique said.
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“I would like to remind people that he is a midfielder, not a winger. He has made a sacrifice to adapt to that position on the pitch.
“People are free to express themselves but I do not like the whistles – they do not help.
“I know the person – he is a spectacular human being and he wants more than anything for this club to be successful. I am hurt a lot by this.”
Pique is a proven winner and has played in some of Barcelona’s most successful sides. He has lifted three Champions League trophies for the Catalonians and has won the La Liga title a staggering eight times.
He doesn’t appear to be enjoying life under Koeman and will not be relishing a season which looks destined to end in misery.
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The centre-back is a senior figure in the Barca dressing room and has a close relationship with club president Joan Laporta, according to Spanish publication SPORT.
Pique hasn’t exactly jumped to Koeman’s defence this season and the centre-back’s influence at board level may not help the Barca manager as he clings to his job.
If the Dutchman still has a job in January, he may therefore be happy for Pique to move on.
Despite being 34 years old, Pique is still regarded as a Rolls Royce defender and could command a starting place at most clubs in the world.
Man Utd have had their own woes this season and have looked anything but assured at the back.
Pique spent four years at the Red Devils before moving to Barcelona, where he began his career.
And the defender could be the perfect fit for Man Utd if he does go in search of one final big-money move.
As former Barca boss Pep Guardiola once said: “When I have doubts, I think about what is best for Barca.”
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