Sir Alex Ferguson decided Gerard Pique wasn’t suited for the Premier League after he was ‘bullied’ in a defeat at Bolton, according to Wayne Rooney.

The Spanish centre-back had joined Manchester United from Barcelona’s academy in 2004 and was just 20 when subjected to a physical Bolton side in November 2007.

Pique was at fault for the game’s only goal as Bolton beat United after he mistimed his jump to allow Nicolas Anelka in to score and was hooked for Anderson just before the hour mark.

At the end of that season, Ferguson decided to sell Pique back to Barcelona for £5million after just 23 appearances for United.

Pique went on to become a fixture in Barcelona’s defence, winning three Champions League crowns – two of which came after beating United in the final – and a host of domestic offers and Ferguson admitted he regretted selling him.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Rooney said: ‘Bolton away more or less finished Gerard Pique’s career at United.

‘He was young and got bullied there and I think that’s when Fergie decided that, physically, he wasn’t right for the Premier League.

‘I always remember [Nemanja] Vidic: If we were going to Bolton – and it was the same when he was about to face Didier Drogba – he would be in the gym for two or three days before, pumping himself up.’

Rooney also revealed that United’s left-back Patrice Evra wasn’t especially fond of trips to Bolton either, especially the prospect of grappling with Kevin Davies.

‘Bolton away was always horrible,’ he said. ‘It was physical and you knew you had to win the fight to win the game.

‘I remember Evra saying about Kevin Davies: ‘I hate this person.’ On throw-ins, Kevin would go and pin the full back with his elbows all over their face and in challenges when the ball went down the line he would leave his foot in.’

SOURCE:- allfootballapp