Pique: My parents told me off for getting into fights but now they don't bother

Gerard Pique has admitted that his parents used to tell him off over his controversial comments or fights, but now they've given up.

The Barcelona defender is a divisive figure in Spain and is very outspoken on matters such as politics.

"My mother and father are the ones that tell me off when I get into trouble," Pique told El Pais Semanal.

"My agent, Arturo Canales, does too, especially when we started [working together]. They'd pester me and have me on the phone for half an hour.

"Now no one calls me. They're fed up. I'm more moderate in business mode."

Pique is in charge of the new-look Davis Cup tournament as well as many other commitments he has outside of football.

"I barely get four of five hours of sleep. There's not enough time for everything," he said.

"The club understand and there are no problems. I dedicate my spare time to what I like."

Pique doesn't shy away from speaking about controversial matters and this often leads to him being whistled by opposition fans.

"I like it, I have to have incentives, there are times that I'm looking for motivation and winning at stadiums where you're whistled always [means] more," he said.

"I know when I'm going to going to get into a fight and I do it because I fancy it. I consider it part of the show. Even more so when it's often all a lie.

"In the end, no one remembers what you said two days after. You leave there, you can deal with the fake news and give it back."

The people of Spain have voting in a general election on Sunday and Pique doesn't like how footballers are treated when it comes to political positions.

"When people go to vote, they do it in secret. Why do footballers have to say who we're voting for?" he said.

"I can back or defend the right to decide like I defended for the Spanish national team for 14 years. Sport and politics go together, hand in hand, always.

"The Copa del Rey is called the King's [Cup]; when you play an international match, you sing the national anthem, and this is politics.

"Can sportspeople not get involved? Bloody hell! We have the same rights to be citizens as anyone else."