Gerard Pique has been around for what feels like forever - but he’s still only 32 years old.

The Barcelona defender, who has won the lot during his illustrious career, made his professional debut with Manchester United in 2004 and spent the next four years at Old Trafford before returning to the Camp Nou.

Sir Alex Ferguson couldn’t find a place in his first-choice XI for the young defender because the defensive partnership between Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic was so formidable, hence Pique’s decision to return to Barça - but United ended up losing out on one of the best centre-backs of the current generation in the process.

Pique has won seven La Liga titles, six Copas del Rey, and three European Cups with the Catalan giants.

He’s also won the World Cup and European Championships with Spain.

However, for one reason or another, there are some football fans who would argue that Pique isn’t one of the best defenders of recent years.

Is it possible that Pique is, in fact, a little underrated because he plays for Barcelona - a team where the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi have taken most of the limelight since 2008?

He certainly isn’t underrated in the mind of Barça legend Carles Puyol, who has spoken about his former teammate in an interview with Marca today.

Puyol was asked to name the best centre-back in the world currently playing today, reminded that Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Ajax’s Matthijs de Ligt have both made a huge impact this season.

However, Puyol has no doubt in his mind that Pique is a better central defender than both Van Dijk and De Ligt.

Marca: ‘De Ligt is coming, Van Dijk has exploded ... Who is the best central defender in the world?’

Puyol: “Gerard Piqué, without a doubt.”

Marca: And between [Sergio] Ramos and Piqué?

Puyol: “Gerard Piqué.”

Puyol even thinks Pique is a better centre-back than he was at his peak.

“He is the best centre-back in the world,” Puyol added. “We're different. He is key to Barcelona in everything he contributes: his leadership, how he competes.

“He is a phenomenon and a great friend.”

Given the choice between Van Dijk or Pique, you suspect most football fans would now choose the former.

But Puyol, who knows a thing or two about defending at the highest level, is convinced Pique is still ahead of every other centre-back on the planet - including Liverpool’s talismanic Dutchman.