Pique deal all but done
Manchester United have all but tied up a deal for youngster Gerard Pique to play on loan at Real Zaragoza for the coming season.
The Catalunya-born centre back was part of the Spanish team which won the European Under-19 Championship this summer, and there are high hopes for him at Old Trafford.
But with four main centre halves already in the ranks in Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Mikael Silvestre, United have decided the 19-year-old would benefit from the experience of top flight football in Spain.
The Liga side will be financially penalised if they do not play the Red Devils starlet in at least 20 games, so the deal has worked out well for both sides.
"Ferguson has a lot of confidence in the kid and the option in Spain is perfect for his progression in the sport," the player´s agent Arturo Canales explained.
Pique represents new coach Victor Fernandez´s fifth summer signing at the Estadio La Romareda following the arrivals of Juanfran, Sergio Fernandez, Pablo Aimar and Andres D´Alessandro.
He is set to take the number five shirt at Zaragoza, who will now turn their attentions to their negotiations to take Real Madrid´s attack-minded full back Carlos Diogo on loan for the season as well.