Barcelona manager Xavi has asked his former teammate and current defender Gerard Pique to rescind his contract with the club over unprofessional behaviour. Pique has two years left for the contract to expire, and the club already owes him over 40m euros in deferred payment.

Xavi doesn’t consider him a regular starter for the next season, even though Pique made 39 appearances for the club in 2021/22. Barcelona has signed Andreas Christensen from Chelsea and they already have Eric Garcia in the squad. They have now also identified Sevilla’s Jules Kounde as their next target. 

Pique’s high salary and physical decline are two reasons the club wants to offload him this season. Moreover, Xavi was also concerned with Pique’s off-field demeanour and his multiple business interests. 

Pique recently split up with Shakira, amid rumours of the footballer cheating on her. The duo met on the set of the “Waka Waka” music video and started dating a year later. It was also reported that Pique, who was living in a bachelor pad, frequented nightclubs in Barcelona and would often return late at night.

“We regret to confirm that we are separating. We ask for privacy at this moment for the well-being of our children, who are our maximum priority. Thank you in advance for your understanding and respect,” said a joint statement from the couple.

As per Diario Sport, Xavi tried to convince the defender to write off some portion of the amount Barcelona owes to him. But Pique was adamant to end his career at Barcelona and vowed to work harder on his fitness. He has also agreed to take a wage cut to help in the ongoing transfer window. 

Pique also had a talk with the club’s president, Joan Laporta, soon after the meet-up with Xavi was over. The 34-year-old promised that he would minimise time spent on his other companies, and limit his social media presence. 

Featured Image: Pique/Instagram