Sportsmail’s SIMON JONES caught up with the former Manchester United defender now playing at the heart of Barcelona’s back line.

You've played in some of the world's most exotic locations... Crewe, Burton, Bolton, Middlesbrough. What did those early games with Manchester United teach you?

You've played in some of the world's most exotic locations... Crewe, Burton, Bolton, Middlesbrough. What did those early games with Manchester United teach you?

(Laughs) I made by debut in a League Cup tie at Crewe in 2004, coming on for John O'Shea, and made by full debut in the FA Cup against Exeter. I think you learn much more and grow up quicker playing in places such as those you mention. And if it’s in the middle of the winter time, even more. I was very young when I was playing for Manchester United, I'd never been away from home, sometimes I was finding it really difficult, and those games, those pitches, make you mature really fast. That type of experience has definitely hardened me and helped me to be where I am today.

Gerard Pique speaks to Sportsmail ahead of his return to Old Trafford with Barcelona

What was the most important thing Sir Alex Ferguson ever did for you? And have you spoken to him since his brain operation last year?

He did a lot of important things to me. Before I signed for United my level of English wasn’t very good and he made every effort to make himself understandable. It was quite difficult because his Scottish accent is very strong and he speaks very fast so I couldn’t understand him too much at the beginning in team chats but he could see that and he decided to spend more time with me.

I am very thankful for that, it was something very necessary for a very raw footballer. You see many young players failing when they go abroad but maybe they don't have a man like Sir Alex to help them. He was also very understanding when I had the opportunity to return to Barcelona, he could see I was sincere.

Regarding the operation, I expressed my happiness to him that everything had gone well. He has been a key figure, like a second father, in my career and I will always wish him the best in life.

Pique (centre) reveals that Sir Alex Ferguson (R) made life at united very easy when he joined

Which Manchester United player was the greatest influence on your development and why?

It was possibly Rio Ferdinand. I learned a lot from him - his positioning, leadership and passing was the three things I looked up to.

He helped me to improve. In my opinion, he was the best central defender in the Premier League.

What did you make of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when you were there? Is he as quiet as he looks? Was he the ideal choice to be United manager?

He was a great teammate and a very hard working guy. He is a quiet person but he can take the lead in a locker room conversation without hesitating. Sometimes we confuse traits and we think quiet people can’t be commanding people.

I told my friends that he would be a great solution for Manchester United when he took the coaching role and so far I am not wrong. He is doing an awesome job and I don’t see a reason why he shouldn’t be a success as the permanent boss for United. I believe the fans think the same as me.

The Spaniard made his debut in a League Cup tie at Crewe in 2004, coming on for John O’Shea

Patrice Evra and yourself played some dressing room pranks at United. Who is the joker in the Barca dressing room, can you reveal what they get up to?

High level of pranks are definitely something that I miss from my United time. It was so much fun, ha ha. I love English humour, that dark humour is brilliant.

I still do some jokes at Barcelona but much less than I did in Manchester, I think I might be getting old. Jordi Alba is a good prankster too. But nothing compares to United. When I got there one day I went to training with a new shirt that I thought was so nice.

Next thing I see when I walk onto the training pitch is one of these dummies you put up to practise free kicks with my shirt on. It was rainy and it was muddy, the shirt ended up like a disaster. I was 17, I will never forget (laughs).

Pique reveals Spain and Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba (left) is a dressing-room prankster

You've known Messi since he was 13, you must be used to him beating four or five players but, technique apart, what make shim stand out as a person/competitor for you?

Some people think that when we talk about him and say: 'We saw from day one he had a special talent,' we are making that up. And it was totally like that.

Our coach Rodolfo Borrell, who is now at Manchester City with Pep, almost begged us not to hurt him in training. But we couldn’t hurt him because we couldn’t reach him! Even if we wanted to it was impossible. It still happens today, he is the best player in the world and no one can get near him.

He is like the cartoons... you see he is challenging you, facing you and still you won’t get the ball from him. He scores from every position, from every angle. Left, right, head, interior, exterior… I could talk to him for hours and not find a negative. He is such a nice guy and a good person, above everything, I am proud to be a friend of his.

The Barcelona central defender insists they could see Lionel Messi's talent from day one

Which players excite you from Barcelona and Man United squads and why?

This is a very tough question. You are talking here about two squads who have reached the quarter finals of the Champions League. We have a great group of players, you don’t make a Barcelona squad if you are not a world class footballer.

As simple as that. The same applies to United: Pogba, Lukaku, Ander, Mata, Rashford, De Gea, Alexis… I could name every player of them as someone who can excite me any given day.

If Pep Guardiola won the Champions League with Manchester City do you think he would need to find a new challenge or can he create a legacy there similar to Barca?

What we did with Pep at Barcelona is once in a lifetime. Of course he can be successful at Manchester City but to have a team like that and play the way he made us play is something unique in the history of a sport.

At the end of the day, he can create a legacy at Manchester City but it will be a different type of legacy. If he would stay or he would go after winning a Champions League it’s something that you will have to ask him when the time comes. And for the moment I hope it doesn’t happen because we are in a good position to get there this year.

You have an economics degree, have set up businesses, and your Kosmos company has helped revamp tennis's Davis Cup and bought Spanish football club Andorra. Where do you see your next big challenge in life?

I feel the happiest man in the world when I wake up in the morning and I want to keep going like that. I like to keep myself busy, I am not a person who will be satisfied thinking small. I enjoy my football and I enjoy every day at FC Barcelona, which is the club I’ve always loved.

I am a privileged person. Now we are working with Kosmos for something for the future, with very exciting projects that are becoming realities. It is very rewarding seeing how things turn out and I hope we keep growing in a successful manner.