Gerard Pique’s contract talks with former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu have come to the forefront. As per the story from Barcaleaks, the former president’s tendency to hand out absurd contracts to players is now being proven.
The central defender has already been part of a lot of talk off the pitch. His personal life, as well as the messages he exchanged with Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales about holding the Super Cup outside of Spain have been doing the rounds. And now, the details of his contract have emerged.
Gerard Pique’s contract details under former Barca president revealed
The deal that the defender signed under Bartomeu made him the highest-paid player in his position worldwide. The contract was of five years, and he was expected to earn €142 million over the course of the deal. This amounted to €28.4 million per year. And after taxes, and bonuses, it was worth €15 million per season.
The deal agreed was on the basis of Gerard Pique’s demands – that he be the highest paid central defender in the world ahead of Sergio Ramos. The Real Madrid skipper was earning a contract worth €12.5 million during the same time.
Pique has since taken a pay cut, and has been pushed down in the pecking order by the emergence of new and younger talent that is able to deliver on a more consistent basis.