Barcelona defender Gerard Pique took to Facebook to answer questions ranging from who his childhood idols were to the toughest opponents he has ever faced on the pitch . With his team leading La Liga and on the verge of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Manchester City , Pique took time away from training to interact with his fans . When asked who were the best defenders he has played alongside , the 28-year-old listed a pair of stalwarts from the two clubs he has signed for during his career : Carles Puyol at Barcelona and Rio Ferdinand of Manchester United . Barcelona defender Gerard Pique opened up during a Facebook Q & A session with fans . The Spain international scores a rare goal during the 6-1 defeat of Rayo Vallecano on March 8 . Pique picked former Man United team-mate Rio Ferdinand as one of the best defenders he has played with . A young Pique listens as Ferdinand gives youngsters advice during their time together at Old Trafford . Pique arrived at Manchester United from Barcelona 's La Masia academy as a teenager in 2004 before returning to Barcelona four years later when opportunities at Old Trafford became limited , primarily because of the established form of Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic . The Spaniard , who has a child with pop songstress Shakira , bears a similar cultured style to Ferdinand in the mould of a tall defender with excellent technique who is comfortable on the ball . Meanwhile , at the other end of the pitch , Pique again chose one player from England and another from Spain when asked who have been his toughest opponents . Pique picked Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo ( right ) as one of the toughest players he 's played against . Chelsea battering ram Didier Drogba ( 2nd left ) was another opponent that has tested Pique to the limit . 'Cristiano Roanldo and Didier Drogba , ' he answered in reference to his Real Madrid rival and and Chelsea 's physically imposing centre-forward . Among other revelations from Pique 's Q & A session are that Hristo Stoichkov and Ronald Koeman were his idols as a child while , unsurprisingly , Lionel Messi is 'definitely ' the best player he has ever played with . Pique also admitted he misses the presence of Puyol and close friend Cesc Fabregas in the Nou Camp dressing room , saying : 'Yes , a loooooot ! Who would n't ? ' The 28-year-old admits he misses having his close friend Cesc Fabregas with him at Barcelona .
Spain star Gerard Pique took part in Facebook Q & A with fans . Barcelona defender picked former Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand and Carles Puyol as the best defenders he has played with . Pique rates Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba as his hardest opponents .