• Shakira & Gerard Pique

Shakira & Gerard Pique (Photo : www.shakira.com)

Barcelona defender Gerald Pique shut down rumors that he will be moving to Manchester City and re-join former manager Pep Guardiola, stressing that his love for Manchester United is too much for him to play for City.

"My love for Manchester United is too great for me to sign for City, even though Pep is a great coach. I'm very happy in Barcelona. United are my second club, but my future is at Barca. I'm very proud to play at Barcelona. I think it's the best club in the world."

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Pique, who had a subpar four-year stint under Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford before breaking out as one of the finest center backs in the world with Barcelona, insisted that he has no intention of leaving Barca anytime soon, but opens himself to play in a different league at some point of his career.

"I would like to try a different league when I've got a few years to go before retiring. I don't know if it will be Colombia -- I'd like that for [wife] Shakira, but nobody can predict the future."

Despite his rough experience at United, Pique stressed that he learned a lot from those hard moments at Old Trafford, making a better player today.

"And in the good times, when I arrived at Barcelona at 21, I won every trophy -- the treble, six cups, and thought I was a superstar. But, with time, you realise you have bad times like everyone else and you need to get up."

Sources: ESPN FC