Piqué appeared three times in 2004-05 and played seven more games in 2005-06 before spending a year on loan at Zaragoza. The barrier at United was Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic: “In those years they were one of the best pairs of centre-backs in the world. We are talking about top quality players in that position and it was really difficult for me to get in and get games. I remember the year I went to Zaragoza on loan. I had a great season and played really well. When I came back he [Ferguson] said to me – definitely you will play a minimum of 25 games, but it wasn’t like that at the end of the season, so I spoke with him, and Barcelona came in. It was the best option for both of us.”