Barcelona star Gerard Pique will feature for Spain this summer.
Gerard Pique – Spain – Will face Czech Republic, Turkey, Croatia.
HITC Sport writers have compiled a list of the top 50 players at Euro 2016, assessing players from across the 24 countries taking part at this summer’s tournament.
Coming in at number 19 is Spain and Barcelona star Gerard Pique, who helped the Catalan giants win the La Liga title yet again this season.
The top players at Euro 2016 1-50: Read the entire list
International record: 76 Caps, 4 Goals.
2015/16: With three goals in 39 games, Pique helped Barcelona to the La Liga title, and played a major part in Barca conceding just 29 goals in La Liga – the second best defensive record behind Atletico Madrid. A regular for Luis Enrique and one of the top defenders in Europe, Pique again proved why he is so highly rated this season, holding the Barcelona defence together whilst the likes of Dani Alves and Jordi Alba bomb forward down the flanks.
What can we expect?
It’s expected that Pique will improve on his dire 2014 World Cup campaign. Both he and his central defensive partner for Spain were all over the place in Brazil, contributing to the stunning 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands and 2-0 loss to Chile. Thing went a little better for Pique and Spain during qualifying for Euro 2016, as they lost just once and conceded only three goals.
They will face sterner tests this summer though, and in a potentially tricky group, Pique and the rest of his defence must show that they have bounced back from their torrid 2014 World Cup.
Which Premier League clubs would he suit?
With Pique’s former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola heading to Manchester City this summer, a move to the Etihad Stadium would certainly make some sense for the Spanish centre back. Ultimately, he’s unlikely to ever leave his hometown club again, but if he was to leave the Camp Nou for a return to English football, reuniting with Guardiola would be appealing for Pique.
A return to former club Manchester United is unlikely despite the Red Devils needing to sign a centre back, whilst Chelsea are also in the market for a defender this summer – but don’t expect to see Pique back in the Premier League any time soon.
Should Gerard Pique be higher on this list? Should he be on it at all?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
