Guardiola didn't like my relationship with Shakira - Gerard Pique

Barcelona defender gerard Pique has said that pep Guardiola did not like his relationship with Music star Shakira

 

Gerard Pique's relationship with music star Shakira caused a stir at Barcelona's dressing room as revealed by the defender on Monday. (Photo credit: Marca)

It was interesting to see, especially from fans across the two entertaining spheres of life – music and football; the union was one that left many wondering who would be better off and who would become worse off, of waist beads and the need to turn on red in front of an attacker…

Gerard Pique, the long serving Barcelona defender opened up on the situation of things between him and his then manager Pep Guardiola over his much publicized relationship with Colombian singer Shakira, it wasn’t what most people knew about but wasn’t a rude shock either.

A few players have come out to attack Guardiola publicly, with Samuel E'too coming to mind as well as Yaya Toure, but Pique's subtle jab leaves lots of question for Guardiola to answer on man management.

Pique rejoined Barcelona from Manchester United in 2008 and was part of the Guardiola revolution that swept titles, including three La Liga titles and two of the available champions league trophies in three years beating Manchester United in the two finals.

In Guardiola’s final year at Camp Nou, tensions brewed around the dressing room and Pique was quick to point that it wasn’t just him but everyone felt the heat.

"We reached a moment of tension with him, not just me but the dressing room in general," Pique told La Sotana on Monday.

"The rivalry with Jose Mourinho [at Real Madrid] wore us down a lot. Pep wanted absolute control over everything that was happening.

"I started dating Shakira and our relationship changed. Now, the relationship is perfect. But there was a lot of pressure on me then. I felt like I had to do everything in training perfectly.

"If there was a moment I thought about leaving Barca, it was that [2011-12] season. I struggled in that last season with Guardiola."

Ten years on, Pique has grown to be an integral part of the club’s rich successes and failures in recent years; Barcelona only has a Copa Del Rey trophy to their name in the last two years, coupled with a heavy debt profile that contributed to the exit of club legend Lionel Messi.

Previous president Josep Maria Bartomeu was in charge as Barca's finances deteriorated and Pique, who has previously spoken of his own desire to run the club one day, says he didn't do a good job.

"I can't say if he is the worst president [ever]," Pique added. "But from what I have experienced, he must be [up] there. We are all guilty, but it is true that the club have not gone where all the Catalans want it to be.

"Now I am hopeful and excited again, though. The next five or 10 years will be very good for Barcelona."