BarcelonaIn an interview with RAC 1, ex-Blaugrana (2008-2022) Gerard Piqué reviewed some topics linked to the current situation in football and Barça.
The trial of Dani Alves for an alleged rape. “It’s a very complicated issue because I know him and I love him. It’s very fucked up for everyone, for him and for those of us who were his colleagues. Justice must take its course. I want to wait for what the judge, but above all you need to help the victim in the process. When you are his dressing room mate you share everything. You see him act and you would never think so. But it seems to be the case and you are left in a state of ‘shock’ that you don’t ‘wait. If it is true that it has happened, you must be very hard on him. I would be adamant and very hard, if that is the case.’
A hypothetical return of Messi to Barça. “Only he knows Leo’s future. He has won the World Cup and now no one can doubt that he is the best in history. Whatever he decides, it will be his matter, where he can find happiness and his competitiveness. If he wants to continue competing, Barça may be in his plans, if he wants to stop competing at this level, he still goes to the MLS (in the United States). It would be a beast, for everything he has made us feel, for Messi to return to play for Barça”.
Sobre el cas Negreira. “I would put my hand on the fire that Barça hasn’t bought referees. I know the club. If you want to buy a referee, you stay with him and give him an envelope, there’s no need for all this framework. The players didn’t know anything about it. But I think this is more in the face of the coaches and the coaching staff. We already know the players who have been playing for many years, the referees. We were completely out of it. They will not be able to tarnish Barça’s best years.”
The commission he received to take the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. “There is no conflict of interest. I don’t think Rubiales [el president de la RFEF] has helped Barça. It has no logic. Who wants to think that’s why the referees helped us… When I played it, we didn’t win it even once and fell in the semi-finals.”
Barça will keep half of the tickets for the ‘final four’ of the Kings League at Camp Nou. “I think we all win with the deal. It has nothing to do with it [amb la seva retirada quan el Barça encara li devia diners, per diferiments]. We left this resolved with the club when I left. The final four at the Camp Nou, I imagined it, warmed up and told Laporta, who saw it well. If he said yes, go ahead. If he told me no, then nothing happened”. It will be played at the stadium on March 26, more than 70,000 tickets have been sold and they cost between 10 and 60 euros.
