Shakira Opens Up on How Pep Guardiola Made Gerard Pique Suffer at Barcelona

• Gerard Pique's former partner Shakira has indicated that the defender did not have the best of relationships with Pep Guardiola
• Pique played under Guardiola for four years and was part of the 2009 treble-winning side
• Shakira has revealed that the centre-back even contemplated going back to his former club, Manchester United

Shakira has lifted the lid on Pep Guardiola's relationship with Gerard Pique during the former's time in charge of Barcelona.

Guardiola led a highly-successful four-year stint at Barcelona, which saw him win two Champions League titles, among other trophies.

Pique was among the integral members of his squad, but as Shakira now explains, the defender did not often see eye to eye with Guardiola and was ready to return to Manchester United.

As the Mirror reports, Shakira was speaking during the hearing of a tax fraud case in which she has been implicated. In her testimony, the Colombian pop star detailed her relationship with Pique and Barcelona during their time together.

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"Gerard had a relationship with Barca that was somewhat complicated. With Guardiola, he had a super tense relationship, one where it was 'you go, or I go'. It was a situation that made him suffer a lot"

Shakira went on to explain that Pique decided against leaving even after Luis Enrique, who was appointed the Blaugrana's coach, informed him he would be on the bench most of the time.

The Waka Waka hitmaker was in the news last year after she ended her 11-year relationship with Pique. Pique, later on, announced his retirement from football, ending a 14-year stay with Barcelona that saw him win 30 major trophies.

Pique snubbed Barcelona's title celebrations

Sports Brief previously reported that Gerard Pique was absent from Barcelona's celebrations on May 15 after the club secured their first La Liga title in four years over the weekend.

Despite coach Xavi and club President Joan Laporta publicly urging the former defender to join them, he restricted his reactions to retweeting a post from Barca confirming their title triumph.

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The central defender confirmed his retirement from football - a decision that will reportedly save the club £46 million - back in November. He made 10 appearances during this campaign, including featuring in six league matches.