Gerard Pique won the Premiership and European Cup in his last season with Manchester United, before joining Barcelona, where has won a shed load more medals, including a couple more league titles, another European Cup, and most recently, the World Cup.

Still, have played for current world champions, Spain, and current Spanish champions, Barcelona, Pique admits he has never come across a player more frustrated by defeat than Wayne Rooney.

‘‘England’s World Cup and especially the nature of his own personal performances would have really hurt Wayne,” said Pique. “But I strongly believe England’s disaster will be Manchester United’s gain. I have never seen a player in football who gets more upset and frustrated by defeat than Wayne. People can talk about how, with the player’s wages, they don’t care about defeat or about the fans. But anybody who thinks that, needs to see Wayne in the dressing room after a defeat. You don’t even want to talk to him. He looks like he is going to ­explode. Most players cool off over the weekend but he will come into training on the Monday with even more ­intensity and desire. And I think that is what will ­happen when he gets back in the groove with United. Even on his holiday with his family I know the World Cup will be hurting him. But he is the sort of player who will turn that hurt into a title-winning season for Manchester United.”