Barcelona 'hope Gerard Pique keeps his word' and retires from professional football, rather than accept a place as a substitute.
The arrivals of Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde this summer, coupled with the emergence of young defenders Eric Garcia and Ronald Araujo, have big posed question marks over where Pique fits into Xavi's starting line-up.
According to Sport, the Blaugrana are hopeful that Pique could alleviate some pressure on their financial situation, claiming the feeling at Barcelona is: 'Let's see if he keeps his word.'
The 35-year-old's contract will officially end in June 2024 and his situation may be compounded further by Barcelona's recent financial issues, with the club's economic Vice President recently claiming the club needed £438 million to save the club.
Pique's salary currently makes a big dent in their coffers, with data from Capology suggesting that the Barcelona captain currently sits at the top of their wage pyramid on £45m per year.
The Spanish international has also previously stated that he would never want to play for another club or even sit on the bench at Barcelona despite having only started one game in La Liga this season, with Christensen and Kounde arriving to become Xavi's first choice defensive partnership.
But it's clear Pique is a one-club-man, having previously said, following Barcelona's 8-2 hammering in the Champions League quarter-finals to Bayern Munich in 2020: 'We've hit rock bottom with Barca. If I have to leave for new blood to come, I'm leaving.'
Pique also said in 2021: 'If Koeman tells me tomorrow that I have to leave, I'll quit football. I'm not going to play in any team other than Barça,' and 'I will retire at Barça, but never as a substitute.'
Born in Barcelona, the Catalonian joined the club as a youth player, rising through the academy at La Masia, before joining Manchester United in 2004.
He spent four years at the club, going on loan to Real Zaragoza for a season, before returning to Barcelona, where he has since made 658 appearances, scoring 58 times for the Spanish giants.
Pique is fifth on Barcelona's all-time leading appearances list, but missed much of the end of last season thanks to an soft tissue injury that left Xavi no other choice but to reinforce his defensive stocks over the summer.
Mikaekruyz
113
I am not okay for such reaction rom Barcelona. We know that things may need to change but, Piqué is one of LA Masia and FC Barcelona top seeds! He is a Legend of FC Barcelona, and deserves respect whatever He may say or live. Today we speak about Cruiff and other talented Barcelona's legends from the past. Why not preparing the next generations to recognize who were Piqué, Alba, Busquet, Messi, Iniesta, by treating them as they deserve?? Look at Xavi the Legend we have! He's not at the service of the team as coach?? I hope tomorrow we wi also see other players follow the steps of Xavi as soon as possible because there is no more respect for some players in Barcelona now.
MESSIoverPENALDO
56
If I was in pique shoe and they bench me and still pay me 45m € a year I would wait for my contract to expire before I retire
Youngking10
24
pique was the reason Barcelona sold todibo at that time todibo was even better than Arujo.and for pique to even said if Barcelona bring in top defender still he will play over that player, pique Barcelona is not your father property just leave like puyol,xavi,iniesta rakitic mascherano did and let them build the team we need to win trophies
ballerz4life88
9
I am not okay for such reaction rom Barcelona. We know that things may need to change but, Piqué is one of LA Masia and FC Barcelona top seeds! He is a Legend of FC Barcelona, and deserves respect whatever He may say or live. Today we speak about Cruiff and other talented Barcelona's legends from the past. Why not preparing the next generations to recognize who were Piqué, Alba, Busquet, Messi, Iniesta, by treating them as they deserve?? Look at Xavi the Legend we have! He's not at the service of the team as coach?? I hope tomorrow we wi also see other players follow the steps of Xavi as soon as possible because there is no more respect for some players in Barcelona now.
what do you mean treating them as they deserve? Giving them playtime even though they were underperforming from as early as 2017 or did you forgot?Respect goes both ways. Both Xavi,Iniesta,Puyallup and others left when they realized they can't give the Barcelona standard performance they used to give.They could've stayed and just sit down sacked out money from under bartomeo while the club was slowly sinking but they showed RESPECT TO THE CLUB AND THE CLUB RESPECTED BACK FOR IT. Opposite is true, football moves on and your past shouldn't determine whether you get game time or not. The only reasons these old men became legends was because they took the place of the legends before them cause they were old. Are they immune to that? Every barca players knows who pique and co. are do what point are you trying to say?Should they be worshipped? Their time had expired years ago.