Gerard Pique wanted to leave Barcelona when Pep Guardiola was boss and desired a return to Manchester United, his former partner Shakira has claimed.
Pique confirmed his retirement from football in November ahead of last season’s World Cup break – a decision that will reportedly saved Barca £46million, due to a combination of his high wage packet and deferred salary payments over recent years.
Pique’s retirement announcement followed claims that the defender had a falling out with Barca boss Xavi over a lack of playing time and a leak of the player's contract at the club by Spanish media outlet El Mundo.
At that time, the 36-year-old had 18 months remaining on his contract, which had been due to end in June 2024. It brought an end to a glorious 14-year stint at the club which saw the central defender make 616 first-team appearances.
Pique won 30 trophies with Barca over that time including three Champions League titles and nine La Liga crowns. However, it has now been documented that a lot of that was far from certain and the defender was previously encouraged to leave the club.
Shakira was speaking this week during her trial for the alleged tax fraud of €14.5million, in which she was detailing her account that she did not live in Spain until 2015.
During her testimony, she outlined her relationship with Pique at the time and the former footballer’s career.
The high-profile couple announced the end of their 11-year marriage in June last year and in August, Pique was seen in public with his new girlfriend, Clara Chia Marti. The two were pictured kissing at the Summerfest Cerdanya festival in Catalonia.
“Gerard had a relationship with Barca that was somewhat complicated,” Shakira explained in the court, in quotes carried by El Pais. “With Guardiola he had a super tense relationship, one where it was 'you go or I go'. It was a situation that made him suffer a lot.”
The singer says that the player considered other options for his football career at that time, such as returning to Manchester United. Eventually Pique decided to stay at the club, despite Luis Enrique – appointed in 2014, two years after Guardiola’s exit – warning him to expect time on the bench.
Pique spent four years of his career at United between 2004 and 2008, making 23 first-team appearances and scoring just twice. He was kept out of the team due to the partnership between established starters Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
