Piqué denies 'fifth column uprising' at Barça: "We're not angry with the board"
The Barcelona centre-back spoke about the current state of affairs during a promotional event. "I can understand that the fans are hurt by how Neymar left".
Gerard Piqué attended the PokerStars Championship at Barcelona Casino today and took a moment during a break in the event to attend the media. The centre-back denied that there is a rebellion taking place among the players. "We're not angry with the board of directors". Piqué insisted just days after pictures were published on social media showing the heavyweights in the Barça dressing room posing with Neymar which some took as a revolution being plotted against Bartomeu.
Piqué rejects talk of Barcelona rebellion
The problem was that the photos taken with Neymar were taken and published on the same day as Barcelona announced they would be taking legal action against the player for failing to comply with a renewal clause in his contract. Piqué explained: “It was just sheer chance that the photos with Neymar happened on the same day as the club announced the court case. When the statement was released (just after 4pm local time) we were already at a party and knew nothing about it. There's just the normal kind of photos that people take at a children's birthday party and we were havig a good time. If we, the players, want to send a message to the board, we would do it in private".
Friendship with Neymar intact despite his departure to PSG
As for Neymar's departure, Piqué added: “I can understand that the fans are hurt by how Neymar left but you have to remember that Neymar has been our team mate for several years and apart from our working relationship, he is a great friend of ours”.
Piqué convinced that Messi will sign his contract extension
To end, Piqué spoke about Leo Messi's future: "I'm not worried at all that he hasn't signed his new contract. I know him, I know what he's like and I know he loves Barça more than anyone". The centre-back also admitted that his plan is to retire at Barcelona, to great mirth for the se queda (he' staying) quote which put his name in the headlines.
