Gerard Pique has Ruled Out Return to England Amid Manchester United Interest

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has distanced himself from rumours suggesting that he was set to return to the Premier League with former club Manchester United.

Earlier in the month, there were reports suggesting that Louis van Gaal is set to make a bid to bring the Spanish international defender back to Old Trafford, where he spent four years early on in his career.

Pique has come in for some criticism recently and he has also lost his regular place in the Barcelona first-team. Despite that, the defender is in no rush to leave and has indicated that he intends to finish his career in his boyhood club.

"I was really happy and left a lot of friends [in Manchester], even if I didn't play as much as I'd wanted, but I've always said I want to stay here all my career and retire at Barcelona," Pique said, as quoted by Goal

The 27-year-old defender has revealed that he left United as he was not getting regular game time, but has refused to do the same since this is the first time in his Barcelona career that he is not a regular in the team.

"At Manchester United I had Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic ahead of me, players who were never injured, never red carded ... f**king hard [to dislodge] but this is the first time at Barcelona I'm not playing as much as I want to."

"A lot of people say: 'Pique is not fit or not playing well' but Pique is really playing well. After the World Cup I admitted I maybe hadn't been at my level but, in pre-season, I worked really hard and I'm really happy about my performances during the season," the Spaniard explained.

The Spanish World Cup winner is flattered by United's interest, but he wants to continue at the club where he started his career and hopes to finish there as well.

"At the moment I'm not thinking about leaving. I'm really happy if it's true that United want me but I'm a Barcelona fan, I have been since I was a kid. I want to stay here," Pique concluded.