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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will head into next week's Champions League final hoping their bid to retain the trophy is not scuppered by a familiar face.
Ferguson sold Gerard Pique back to Barcelona last summer for £5million because the defender wanted more first-team football and was also keen on a return to his homeland.
Although he was involved in a number of matches last season he could not break the Rio Ferdinand-Nemanja Vidic partnership on a regular basis and the United boss reluctantly let him go.
The 22-year-old has since proved what Ferguson knew all along when he tempted the player away from the Catalans as a youngster, before he could sign a professional contract.
Pique has outshone his more illustrious and experienced captain Carles Puyol and kept veteran Mexico defender Rafael Marquez out of the side.
Despite his relative youth he has been the rock at the heart of Barcelona's defence and that has come as no surprise to Ferguson.
"I have always liked the boy. I did expect him to reach this level so quickly," he said.
"He has fantastic qualities but most importantly, he has a good self-determination about him. He is a winner and a good professional.
"I always thought he would do well. We were disappointed to lose him but we understood at the time that his family desire was to go back to Barcelona.
"He looked at Ferdinand and Vidic and wanted to be in the first team immediately.
"I can understand why he wanted to go back to Barcelona. We wished him well at the time but we don't wish him well on Wednesday."
Ironically, had Pique stayed there would have been a chance he could have been lining up for United against Barcelona in Rome as Ferguson has a fitness doubt over Ferdinand, who has missed the last three matches with a calf injury.
Instead it is another youngster Jonny Evans who is on standby, having partnered Vidic in Ferdinand's absence.
Ferguson drew comparisons between the development of Pique and the 21-year-old Evans, saying their progress was very much down to United's youth system.
"The kid (Evans) has had a fantastic season," said the Scot.
"Jonny and Gerard both came through together. It is a credit to our academy they both could be playing in the final - I am sure Gerard will be, and it will be a nice touch."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football...&TEAMHD=soccer
Ferguson sold Gerard Pique back to Barcelona last summer for £5million because the defender wanted more first-team football and was also keen on a return to his homeland.
Although he was involved in a number of matches last season he could not break the Rio Ferdinand-Nemanja Vidic partnership on a regular basis and the United boss reluctantly let him go.
The 22-year-old has since proved what Ferguson knew all along when he tempted the player away from the Catalans as a youngster, before he could sign a professional contract.
Pique has outshone his more illustrious and experienced captain Carles Puyol and kept veteran Mexico defender Rafael Marquez out of the side.
Despite his relative youth he has been the rock at the heart of Barcelona's defence and that has come as no surprise to Ferguson.
"I have always liked the boy. I did expect him to reach this level so quickly," he said.
"He has fantastic qualities but most importantly, he has a good self-determination about him. He is a winner and a good professional.
"I always thought he would do well. We were disappointed to lose him but we understood at the time that his family desire was to go back to Barcelona.
"He looked at Ferdinand and Vidic and wanted to be in the first team immediately.
"I can understand why he wanted to go back to Barcelona. We wished him well at the time but we don't wish him well on Wednesday."
Ironically, had Pique stayed there would have been a chance he could have been lining up for United against Barcelona in Rome as Ferguson has a fitness doubt over Ferdinand, who has missed the last three matches with a calf injury.
Instead it is another youngster Jonny Evans who is on standby, having partnered Vidic in Ferdinand's absence.
Ferguson drew comparisons between the development of Pique and the 21-year-old Evans, saying their progress was very much down to United's youth system.
"The kid (Evans) has had a fantastic season," said the Scot.
"Jonny and Gerard both came through together. It is a credit to our academy they both could be playing in the final - I am sure Gerard will be, and it will be a nice touch."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football...&TEAMHD=soccer