Fergie: Pique not for sale
09 Nov 2007 - 07:56:51
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says he has no intention of allowing central defender Gerard Pique to leave the club, despite interest from Real Zaragoza.
The 20-year-old Spaniard spent last season on loan with the Spanish side, but Ferguson is adamant that Pique will be a star at Old Trafford in the near future.
He said: "I'm not surprised people are saying they're interested in him. Zaragoza tried to buy him in the summer. They offered a lot of money for him.
"I have no fears for him. The course we've set is a good one and there's absolutely no intention of letting him go.
"Being a centre-half, he needed time to strengthen and get more experience as a defender. That was what his loan spell at Zaragoza was about.
"Both Gerard and his parents understood that completely. In the end, he played 25 games for them and did very well.
"He got more experience, he got tougher and he became a lot stronger. He's coming along the right way.
"Gerard understands perfectly well the form of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic has been so good, he's going to have to wait a bit.
"But waiting isn't a problem for a 20-year-old. He'll have many opportunities to play when I need to rest defenders and I have the great option of being able to play him in midfield or at right-back."