Former Manchester United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen has spoken of the club losing Gerard Pique and Jonny Evans.

Pique left United to return to Barcelona over a decade ago, while Leicester City defender Evans was sold to West Brom under former manager Louis van Gaal.

Meulensteen told The Michael Anthony Show podcast: "The reason why Pique was gone was that Gerard was a very strong minded person. He knew exactly what he wanted and he knew he was good enough to play first team football. However, was Gerard the ideal and right centre-back for a league like the Premier League?

"It has to be said 'not too sure'. I'm sure he would have become okay because I'm a big fan of Gerard but the proof is in the pudding for him — he made the right decision. He's one of the most decorated players.

"The problem we had is Vidic just walked through the door half a year before."

He added: "I think there was some sort of agreement in a clause with Barcelona and Manchester United and I'm 100 per cent sure that Gerard pushed for that guarantee.

"They [Pique and Evans] were both good at carrying the ball out from the back, moving the ball forward. That's one of the reason why they were fantastic."