Former Barcelona player Gerard Pique attends the press conference of Spanish soccer player Andres Iniesta held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain 08 October 2024. The 40-year-old Iniesta announced his retirement from professional soccer on 08 October. EPA-EFE/Alejandro Garcia
Gerard Pique confirms he had been approached by Juventus while at Manchester United and was tempted, but ‘my dream was to play for Barcelona.’
The 37-year-old was in Italy for an event on the presentation of the Kings League and spoke to Sky Sport Italia reporters.
They asked him about his career path, which began and ended with the Blaugrana upon his retirement in January 2023.
Although he never played in Italy, the defender had come very close at one stage in his career.
Pique on Juventus close call
“Yes, Juventus were interested in me in 2007,” confessed Pique.
“They arrived at the same moment as Barcelona, but it was my dream to play for Barca. Juve were a very big club at the time, but Barcelona were my whole life. I just wanted to go to Barca.”
Pique started his career in their youth academy and moved to Manchester United in 2004.
There was a loan spell with Real Zaragoza in 2006-07, before a transfer to Barcelona finally came true in the summer of 2008.
