Pique told Barcelona to let Messi leave in 2021

Stuart Telford

• 13 Apr 2023 17:51 BST
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi left Barcelona in a flood of tears two summers ago, and it has now emerged that Gerard Pique was one of the players who persuaded the club it wouldn't be an entirely bad thing to let him go…

Messi is Barca's record appearance maker and goalscorer, with 778 and 672 in each column, and he won six of his record seven Ballons d'Or whilst at the Camp Nou.

But the Catalan giants were €1.35 billion in debt at the conclusion of his contract in 2021, and, unable to offer him fresh terms, powerless to stop him leaving on a free to Paris Saint-Germain.

READ: Barcelona fans DEMAND Messi signing

Messi is out of contract again next summer, this time with PSG, and a return to Barcelona has been mooted. While Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal are also in for him, they don't have the same emotional pull as his spiritual home - of the chance of European football.

Pique has since left the club, retiring in November in order to help alleviate their wage bill. The former centre-back and Messi are old friends; the pair, alongside Cesc Fabregas, previously forming one of Barca's greatest ever academy teams.

But now reports have emerged that Pique stabbed Messi in the back before his move to Paris.

READ: How much Pique's retirement has freed up for Barcelona in January

Pique's role

"Two summers ago, Messi left Barca because multiple influential figures weren't convinced the contract extension the club had discussed with him was financially viable," write the Athletic.

"One of these figures, according to reports, was former CEO Ferran Reverter, who left his role in February last year.

"Gerard Pique, who retired in November, was also reportedly involved in making [Barca president Joan] Laporta understand Messi's departure would not be an entirely bad thing."

Pique is no longer at the club but they will need to work hard to persuade Messi that any elements against his return have been removed from the equation.

Messi's offer from Al-Hilal is reportedly €400 million a year - double what his former Clasico rival Cristiano Ronaldo earns with Al-Nassr.