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La Liga: Pique set for Barca return - Setanta Sports

Gerard Pique is set for an emotional return to Barcelona after Manchester United's Champions League final date with Chelsea, according to reports in Catalunya.

The up-and-coming centre back has acquitted himself well at Old Trafford when presented with rare opportunities and even managed a couple of goals this season.

Despite being rated as one of the most promising defenders in Europe, it appears as though the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson cannot break up the rock-solid partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will force the 21-year-old to look elsewhere for first-team football.

Barca were frustrated to lose Pique in the first place in 2004 and will now have to fork out in the region of €5 million (just under £4 million) to land the classy youngster.

El Mundo Deportivo claims a four-year contract will officially be signed at Camp Nou once the small matter of the Moscow showdown in the Champions League is out of the way.

Pique's agent, Arturo Canales, has refused to comment on speculation surrounding his client, telling setantasports.com: "He is only focused on helping his team to win the Champions League final."

Barcelona have not commented on the reports but any sale of Pique, who has played in La Liga on loan at Real Zaragoza, would probably have repercussions for Jonny Evans.

The highly-rated 20-year-old is wanted by Sunderland manager Roy Keane on a permanent basis after a second successful loan stint on Wearside but, although Wes Brown and Mikael Silvestre can play in the middle, it would be a surprise if Ferguson decides to offload his best two back-up options at centre back.

i really hope there is no truth to this rumor becuase he has great potential and i personally would regard him as our 3rd choice centre back. He has a great talent which he showed at Zaragoza last season.