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OFFICIAL: Pique confirms his decision to retire from Spain national team

  /  StanLee

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has confirmed his decision to retire from Spain national team and focus on his club career at Camp Nou.

Pique will no longer be involved with Spain following the summer's World Cup, despite ex-Barcelona boss Luis Enrique taking charge.

"I spoke with Luis Enrique a few days ago," Pique said at the press conference.

"He called me and I told him that my decision had been made a long time ago.

"I am happy with how my international career went, but now I want to focus on Barcelona."

Pique has accumulated 102 caps for his national team, a record that coincides with the most successful period in Roja history. 

Among the centre-back's international honours are the 2010 World Cup and a Euro 2012 winner's medal. 

But his international career has rarely been smooth sailing, with his outspoken support of Catalan nationalism often a stick with which Spain fans have used to criticise him. 

Back in 2016, the Barcelona defender had said he would consider quitting Spain national team after 2018 World Cup due to controversy.