Pique: Bring the best centre-back in the world and he will be a sub

Gerard Pique is in the headlines at the moment. On Monday it was revealed that Xavi met with him two weeks ago to tell the defender he was not needed next season. The player promised his coach he would change the dynamic his life is in off the pitch, which is the main reason the coach is not sure about him. Xavi explained to president Joan Laporta and director of football Mateu Alemany that Jules Kounde is his dream defensive signing.

Per Xavi Valls on Onze on Esports3, Laporta took the step of meeting with Pique and was met by a surprising reaction. Pique said he would raise his level for the two years he has left on his contract. 

Pique said he would leave his private life and other interests on the side to focus exclusively on football. No Twitch, no social media, no business, just football. At 35 he still sees himself capable of playing at the top and he has been coming into work at 9am at the club’s training ground every day to work on his adbuctor injury.

Xavi Torres explained on the same programme that the defender told the president he wanted to see out his contract and would accept a pay cut, to help the club sign new players.

So convinced was Pique of his own ability, when Laporta said a top defender would arrive, Pique replied: “I will be the starter. If you dare, bring the best centre-back in the world and he will come to be a substitute.” A challenge Pique hopes to live up to.