BARCELONA -- Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has said he would not be surprised if Manchester City tried to sign Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez this past summer.
Mundo Deportivo reported on Monday reported that the Premier League side made unsuccessful moves for each member of Barca's front three during the transfer window, while also claiming they'd attempted to bring Sergio Busquets to England.
All four of the players remain at Camp Nou, but Pique says he does not see any problem with City manager Pep Guardiola trying to lure players from Barca, the club he managed for four years.
"Pep has been important to the club [Barca], but he has another project which is very important for him now at Manchester City," Pique said in a news conference on Tuesday.
"They're a club with the financial capacity to sign any players in the world, it's no surprise if they focus on Barcelona. I don't know personally about it, if it's true or not, but I wouldn't be surprised if they tried."
Guardiola returns to Catalonia on Wednesday night for the second time since leaving his post there in 2012.
His Bayern Munich team were beaten 3-0 at Camp Nou in the Champions League semifinal first leg two seasons ago, while his new side City have also been regular visitors to the Spanish champions of late.
Under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini they have been knocked out of Europe by Barca two times in the last three seasons, although Pique points out they already look a different outfit under Guardiola.
"This is a different City to the one of last year, or the one which visited us at Camp Nou before," the defender added.
"Pep's in charge now and he's changed the way they see and play football, which makes it a challenge for us.
"They play similarly to us, we will try to use our strengths, hold the ball, but we know City will press and look to keep the ball. It will be difficult to get the ball and it it's a good challenge to demonstrate we're still on top."
Pique was part of the Barca side which Guardiola managed for four years and he remains grateful for the legacy the Catalan coach left behind.
"I think Pep marked us all," he said. "All of those that played under him in those four years.
"I think there was a before and after Guardiola. We understand football differently now and he changed the club's history.
"I only have praise for him, he gave me the chance to play here, coming from Manchester United. We have great memories of him."