Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has claimed that his club would struggle to win the Premier League if they ever competed in England.

Pique, 28, played in England's top flight with Manchester United between 2004 and 2008 before returning to Barcelona.

How the European champions would fare in England has long been discussed, and Pique feels that his side would find it difficult due to the intensity of all the teams in the division.

"I think that if Barcelona or Real Madrid goes to the Premier League then the first year of playing there, there is no chance of winning it," he told The Telegraph. "I think [this] because if you go to Stoke, or other types of teams, then it will be really tough."

Barcelona won La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey last season and also currently top their domestic table after 11 games.