Barcelona's Gerard Pique has said he would consider playing somewhere in America before retiring from football. David Ramos/Getty Images

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has hinted that he'd like to end his career in the United States, although he has ruled out a move to the up-and-coming Chinese Super League.

Pique has always maintained that he'd like to end his career at Barca, the club he joined in 1997, but he's recently appeared more open to the idea of playing in another league before hanging up his boots for good.

The number of European players joining Major League Soccer has increased greatly in recent years, with Pique's former Barca teammates Thierry Henry and David Villa among the many stars to have made the move.

China has emerged as another destination for players looking for one final challenge before retirement, but Pique prefers the idea of America.

"Both the leagues are growing, although with different models," the 29-year-old said in an interview with La Liga sponsor Pelayo.

"I read that MLS is the league with the seventh-highest attendances, after the five big European leagues and another [league] in sixth.

"The fans are becoming more hooked on football all the time in the United States. I don't think I'd go to China, but the U.S., let's see.

"I've always said I'd like to retire at Barca, but it would be an attractive option for a few years, as long as I have the appetite to continue playing football."

It's not the first time Pique has suggested the United States as a potential post-Barca destination.

During a question-and-answer session on Twitter earlier this year, he mentioned America when asked if he could see himself playing Colombia, where his partner, the singer Shakira, is from.

"We will see what happens in the future. I would like to try another league when I'm about to retire," he said.

"I don't know if it would be in America or South America, but I would like it if it was Colombia for Shaki. You never know what will happen in the future, though."