Gerard Pique Faces Setback on New Hotel Project As 250 Graves Found on Barcelona Defender’s Property

• Two hundred and fifty graves have been found on Gerard Pique's Malaga property, putting on hold the Barcelona star's plans to build a new hotel
• The Barcelona centre-back has invested in a project to build a luxury hotel in Malaga and has spent $20million to acquire the land
• Pique also has troubles on the pitch for Barcelona, with the Spanish defender relegated to the Catalans' 5th choice central defender

Gerard Pique’s troubles seem to not be ending anytime soon, as the Barcelona defender has seen his plans to build a big hotel in Malaga stalled by Spanish authorities.

The 35-year-old, who split from long-term partner Shakira earlier this year, invested heavily in a property worth $20million in Malaga for the purpose of constructing a hotel.

According to Marca, Pique’s hotel project has been stalled after 250 graves were found in the land located on Costa del Sol, which the Barcelona defender bought in 2015.

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The project should reportedly be given the green light to move ahead from Spanish authorities in January 2023, once the 250 tombs have been evacuated.

Authorities also believe there should be no further complications in the bid to build something on the property.

Spain adds Pique to squad

Meanwhile, Pique has made it to Spain’s preliminary squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, after Luis Enrique’s 55-man shortlist was leaked to the public, Football Espana reports.

The 35-year-old defender has featured just eight times for Barcelona this campaign, but only four of those were starts in one of his worst seasons at Camp Nou.

Pique was part of Spain’s successful 2010 World Cup squad that won the country’s first trophy in South Africa, and will be hoping to make it again to the Mundial in Qatar this November.

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Pique agrees to take massive paycut

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Gerard Pique has decided to take some huge personal costs to help Barcelona register its new players, amid the Catalans' financial crisis.

Barcelona has brought in Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Jules Kounde, Frank Kessie and Andreas Christensen, while also renewing the contract of Ousmane Dembele.

The Spanish giants have failed to register any of these players for the upcoming season however, after failing to meet La Liga’s regulations due to their financial troubles.