Gerard Pique Names John Stones in Dream Team, Backs Wayne Rooney to Find Form

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has named a dream team of players from across the world, including Spain team-mates Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas as well as fearsome Barcelona trio Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

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Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has named his current dream team. pic.twitter.com/WKHPQ0RSK4

— InsideWorldFootball (@insidewldftball) November 12, 2015"

However, somewhat more surprisingly, Pique has also picked Everton defender John Stones to line up alongside him at the back.

"Rio Ferdinand and John Terry were the two main central defenders in England. Top-level," Pique told the Telegraph's Jason Burt. "Now I think John Stones is a really, really, good player. He will have a good career. He’s like Rio, a bit. He’s young and alongside him they probably need one who is more experienced."

There was also space on the bench for former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney, whom he backs to rediscover his best form:

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He’s not as quick as he was, maybe, but he will always score goals—he scored a hat-trick against Brugge, he scored against CSKA (Moscow). He has kept scoring.

It’s true he’s getting older, we all have to accept that, but he has the ability to play for a long time. And, you know, when you don’t score sometimes it is not because of you. Sometimes it’s maybe the team is not creating chances for you.

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Pique is set to line up for Spain against England in Alicante on Friday as the two countries step up their preparations for next summer's European Championships in France.

[h/t the Telegraph]