‘Wayne Rooney is one of the best strikers in the game’ – Barcelona’s Gerard Pique wary of Manchester United man

Wayne Rooney, Manchester United

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Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has predicted Wayne Rooney will be Manchester United‘s greatest attacking threat when the two sides meet in the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday.

The 25-year-old England international endured a torrid first half of the season after a poor showing at last summer’s World Cup in South Africa, but has recently rediscovered his best form to help United secure a record 19th league title and a place in the final of Europe’s premier club competition.

Pique knows as well as anyone what Rooney is capable of, having spent four years in the youth ranks at Old Trafford before rejoining Barcelona in 2008, and the Spaniard has admitted it is United’s No.10 who will represent the biggest threat to the Catalans’ hopes at Wembley.

“He is one of the best strikers in the game and has scored a lot of goals,” Pique told reporters.

“I will have to concentrate hard to not to give him space. I have a good friendship with him but we both want to win this game and we will be fighting for our own interests. It was always difficult playing against him in training as it is with Lionel Messi now.”

Pique also took the time to pay tribute to the achievements of his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, and praised the Scot for understanding his decision to return to his hometown club.

“Ferguson has won loads of titles and although the teams change he keeps on winning,” he said. “I had several really good years there but Barcelona is my home and I wanted to return here. He understood this.”

Meanwhile Pique’s team-mate Ibrahim Afellay believes the exceptional quality and attacking mindsets of both teams should make for a great final.

“Both teams have more experience and I think both teams are much better than 2009,” the Dutchman told reporters.

“There is a little bit of a difference I think. It’s a great team with great players and they also want to play football the same like us so I think it’s going to be a great final.”