Gerard Piqué: "I've had as much money as Espanyol's budget for a long time"
Piqué admits that he prefers playing against Espanyol in the Catalan derby to playing against Real Madrid in El Clásico.
Speaking in an interview with YouTuber Jordi Wild, Gerard Piqué discussed playing for Spain, former Barcelona president Bartomeu and much more.
On former Barcelona president Bartomeu
"He's a person who doesn't know how to say no or deal with problems. We haven't seen him around the training ground recently. I got angry with him because he lied to my face about Barçagate. The club hired services to criticise players and he told Messi and me that he didn't know anything. Then I found out that he did, that he lied to me about such a serious matter. Then I came out like an idiot to defend him."
Spain national team
"I think it's compatible to be a pro-independence player and play for Spain. What does it mean to feel the colours? I'm not going to say whether I'm pro-independence or not. The vote is kept a secret and everyone should keep it private."
Spanish fans
"What do supporters prefer: a player who plays great and doesn't care about the country? Or a player who loves his country and then performs poorly? When we won the World Cup, did they look to see if we loved the country?"
Getting booed with the national team
"Personally, I would say that I played better and it motivated me. I've experienced it since I was a kid. More than bothering me, it motivated me."
Playing against Espanyol is better than playing against Real Madrid
"I've had as much money as Espanyol's budget for a long time! I like going to Cornellá more than to the [Santiago] Bernabéu. I was happy when they got promoted to Primera because I was going to play there again. I like going out onto the pitch and being whistled at. Then you laugh and they get even more pissed off with you. I'd say that's better than sex. I enjoy it more than I do against Madrid."
Passion for football
"As a sport, I liked it more when I was a kid than I do now. I was more passionate about it before. Now you have a lot on offer and football is competing against many things."
Andorra and partying
"I tell the players that they have to go out and party. People who never go out partying are hiding something. Children and family have given me five more years of a career. I'm more relaxed now."