Gerard Pique has been warned by Xavi, Barcelona’s manager, and former teammate, that he is no longer in his plans and can leave the Nou Camp this summer.
The Spanish international was advised two weeks ago that he had no future at the club owing to unethical behavior off the field and his declining physical condition.
Pique’s high-profile breakup from Colombian singer Shakira was revealed just days before Xavi’s shocking revelation.
According to Spanish news outlet SPORT, Xavi’s main beef with Pique is his multiple business interests off the field, and it’s thought that Barca owes him over €40 million (£34.3 million) in deferred payments.
Xavi is said to have spoken to his former teammate directly and stated that Pique will not be a part of his plans.
While Xavi has no doubts about Pique’s ability to perform at the greatest level, it is believed that he is concerned about his capacity to cope with the busy schedule of modern football.
Gerard Pique is expected to leave the club in a dignified manner this summer, having forgone the £34.3 million the club allegedly owed him, as great figure Carles Puyol did when he left Barca in 2014.
Puyol, like his old defensive partner, left the Catalan giants in 2014 after 15 years in the first squad with two years left on his contract due to his body’s inability to manage the demands of professional football.
Pique, on the other hand, is willing to fight the club’s wish for him to leave and has reportedly promised to work harder, return to his best form, and cut back on some of his off-field obligations.
Mateu Alemany, the club’s sporting director, must now speak with Pique about the potential of him terminating his contract or finding a new club.
Xavi, who played 312 games with Pique, wants to create his squad around a defense he can trust, and that is something Pique, according to the Barcelona star, cannot provide. Note that Pique is still under contract until 2024.
Gerard Pique has also been involved in a battle over the leadership of the Spanish FA in recent years and has been fined over £8,000 for assaulting police after receiving a parking ticket.
Pique co-founded and serves as president of Kosmos Holding, a sport and media investment holding company he co-founded with four other partners, including Hiroshi Mikitani, the creator of Barca’s sponsor Rakuten.
According to SPORT, Xavi wants Sevilla’s Jules Kounde as a potential successor. Kounde has been a high-profile target for a number of clubs, including Chelsea.
Barcelona are close to signing Andreas Christensen on a free transfer from Chelsea, and they are also interested in Cesar Azpilicueta. Ronald Araujo, a Uruguayan international, has already been named the club’s new defensive captain.
Pique has won three Champions Leagues, eight LaLigas, three Club World Cups, seven Copa Del Reys, six Spanish Super Cups, and three UEFA Supercups after returning to the club in 2008 after four years with Manchester United, scoring 53 goals in 602 games.
It’s yet another setback for Pique, who just revealed her breakup from Shakira.
‘We regret to confirm that we are splitting,’ the former couple, who are parents to Milan, 9, and Sasha,7, wrote in a joint statement.
‘We need privacy at this time for the sake of our children’s safety, which is our first priority.’ Thank you in advance for your patience and consideration.’
The Grammy winner and the sportsman first made their relationship public in 2011.
The news follows reports in Spanish newspapers that the pair was on the verge of splitting up, with insiders suggesting he had cheated on the actress.
The pair has been living separately for a few weeks after Piqué was booted out of the family home by the pop diva, according to Spanish publication El Periodico.
Piqué has since been living a ‘party lifestyle’ in a bachelor pad and enjoying nights out with his teammates, according to insiders.
Neither party has addressed the allegations of adultery, but according to journalist Emilio Pérez, “(Shakira) has decided to separate. That is correct. It has occurred.
“That is why there is distance. Perhaps there is nothing left, but that (infidelity) has passed.”
