MANCHESTER, England — Defender Gerard Pique is leaving Manchester United for a return to FC Barcelona.
United said it sold the 21-year-old Pique to the Spanish club on Tuesday, and that he would sign a four-year contract with Barcelona, which he left in 2004 to join the Red Devils. United did not reveal the transfer fee.
Pique made just 14 starts and nine substitute appearances for United and scored two goals.
"Although Pique enjoyed his most prominent Old Trafford season during 2007-08, the long-standing central defensive partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic meant his route to regular first-team action was blocked," United said.