Gerard Pique has launched a thinly-veiled attack on his former club Barcelona's ongoing financial problems after their failure to sign Lionel Messi this summer.
The Argentine superstar confirmed on Wednesday night that he was joining MLS club Inter Miami in a wide-ranging interview discussing the decision. It came following the conclusion of his two-year stay at Paris Saint-Germain, whom he joined in 2021 after Barca could not afford to renew his contract.
Messi spoke of his decision to move to Florida despite having other options on the table. In an apparent meeting between father and agent Jorge Messi and Barca President Joan Laporta on Tuesday ramped up rumours that Messi would again make his mark at the club where he scored an incredible 672 goals over a 17-year stint, two years after his exit.
In April, Barcelona transfer chiefs confirmed contact had been made with Messi regarding a potential return to the Camp Nou. Xavi and multiple Barca players had spoken of their hope of a sensational return for the Argentine this summer, but that will not be happening despite a ‘proposal’ being made by the club.
Former Manchester United defender Pique had been one of Barca’s highest earners despite accepting multiple salary deferrals and reductions in the past few years, as he was said by Sport to earn a substantial £46million in an annual wage – including wage deferrals.
However, despite the 35-year-old having two seasons remaining on his contract, which had not been due to expire in the summer of 2024, Pique announced his retirement earlier this season to save the club 18 months of wages in a bid to help their financial situation.
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"I was happy to step aside and help Barcelona with salary space," Pique said of his retirement from professional football on the Kings League's Twitch channel. "It makes me laugh now though because we [Pique, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba] have all gone and we still have this fair play issue. Who else has to leave?
"In theory, we were the cause of [the financial problems] with our salaries. We have all gone. We are no longer there... and they still can't sign players (Messi)."
Pique had fallen out of favour under Xavi, following last summer’s signings of Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen with younger players Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia also enjoying more prominence in the line-ups in recent times.
