Gerard Pique "thrilled" with Jeremy Mathieu signing

Gerard Pique has said that he is "thrilled" by Barcelona's capture of defender Jeremy Mathieu.

The 30-year-old Frenchman, who has spent the past five years at fellow La Liga side Valencia, signed a four-year deal at the Camp Nou earlier this week

"Even though he has limited experience at centre-back, he has done a great job whenever he has played in that position and I'm thrilled to have him in the squad," Pique is quoted as saying by Spanish publication Marca.

"It's a position that I thought we needed to strengthen and he's a positive signing."

Barcelona finished last season's league campaign in second place.