Manchester United’s Gerard Pique is being linked with a move to his former club Barcelona, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to see the young defender stay at Old Trafford.

Reports in Spain claim that a £4.8million deal could take the 21-year-old to the Catalan club in the summer as he is yet to make a regular place in United defence marshalled by the formidable partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

However, Ferguson has dismissed the speculation, claiming that he can envision Pique playing a lot more next season.

"I can see him playing 25 to 30 games," Ferguson told the Daily Star. "He's becoming a really good defender. It'll be hard with Rio and Vidic but you need good players."