Xavi Hernández, Barcelona’s coach, and Joan Laporta, the club’s president, met with Gerard Piqué to discuss his status in the team and express their concern about his recent controversy regarding his playing career.
According to Diario Sport, the 35-year-old was encouraged to leave Camp Nou in a dignified manner, as well as disowning the €40 million owed to him by the club, given that his contract expires in 2024.
Despite the coach showing him the escape door, the center-back chose to rebel and pledge to remain away from his business for at least two years in order to focus on providing his best performance. In addition, as reported by the Onze program, the footballer issued a challenge to Culé’s boss: “I’ll be the first to go. Bring the best center-back in the world to serve as a substitute if you have noses.”
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
On that subject, Diaro Sport reports that Xavi sees Jules Kounde of Sevilla as a suitable alternative for Piqué and expects that the Catalan club will be able to afford to sign the Frenchman once their pay expenditures have been reduced. Chelsea is also interested in signing Kounde.
With Andreas Christensen joining on a free transfer from Chelsea this summer, Xavi intends to have a defensive pairing of Kounde and Ronald Araujo.