Gerard Pique suffering from Shakira break-up - Joan Laporta
Daniel Edwards
- Updated: 21 Jun 2022 08:23 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has suggested that Gerard Pique is still smarting from his break-up with long-time partner Shakira.
The Spain defender and the Colombian singer announced their separation in May, after more than 11 years together.
The split has been accompanied by torrents of media speculation into the pair's relationship, and Laporta believes that the episode has taken its toll on Pique.
'Pique is suffering'
"Pique is suffering. As much as we imagine, we have in our imagination players with fame, money and everything we like, but they are people and Pique is a great person. He is one of the captains, he is lucky, and he has given a lot and he has to give us a lot," Laporta said.
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"And he has gone through a circumstance that is not pleasant at all, with children at a very young age and Pique deserves the esteem and affection of the fans.
"Do not pay attention to the news that tries to leave him as a frivolous man, without feelings and that everything slips away from him.
"I am lucky to know him and to have treated him as a person. It is a extraordinary person who is suffering. And we have to help him. I will be the first to give him the love he deserves."
Pique has been at Barcelona since 2008, when he returned to his boyhood club following a spell at Manchester United.
He has since grown into a club icon at the back, winning three Champions League titles and eight Liga crowns and making over 600 appearances for the Catalans.
At 35, though, it remains to be seen how long Pique can retain his undisputed place in Xavi's Barca starting line-up, with Andreas Christensen on the way to Camp Nou and Sevilla defender Jules Kounde also a target this summer.
