• Premier League

Pique: Barcelona can make Rooney one of the best

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique believes Wayne Rooney should move to the Nou Camp this summer if he wants to prove himself as one of the best players in the world.

Pique, who spent four years at Manchester United before returning to Spain, believes the Catalan giants would be the perfect fit for his former Old Trafford team-mate, who has repeatedly been linked away from the Premier League Champions.

"[Rooney] can adapt to many positions," Pique told Sport. "He's best as a centre-forward, but we have even seen him on left or right side.

"He is very versatile, strong, fast, has great technique. I don't think he would have any problems adapting.

"He has what's needed to be one of the three best players in the world. He'd fit in well at Barcelona."

Meanwhile, United will seek a formal transfer request from Rooney if the striker wants to press ahead with an exit.

It was claimed by former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of last season that the 27-year-old had seen a second transfer request in three years rejected by the club he joined from Everton in 2004.

Reports have since suggested that the England international was unhappy with this declaration, and speculation has since raged over his future, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain linked with his signature.

Rooney is expected to hold talks with new Old Trafford boss David Moyes this week, and it is reported by the Times and the Guardian that the club are "relaxed" regarding the situation.

The forward has two years remaining on his current contract and it is claimed that Rooney will have to submit a formal transfer request in order to force through a departure.

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