Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says he can take the unusual route into club politics rather than management when his playing career comes to an end by becoming Barca president.
The Catalan giants are run by a president voted for by the club’s near 150,000 members with mandates lasting up to six years.
“I want to be president of Barca. It is the step I would like to take when I retire. I don’t see myself as a coach, I don’t think I would enjoy it that much,” Pique told Catalan TV station TV3.
“I could do very well for this club as president because it is my passion.”
Pique, 29, announced his decision to retire from international football after the 2018 World Cup earlier this week due to the latest in a series of attacks on his commitment to play for Spain.
During Spain’s 2-0 win at Albania on Tuesday was falsely accused of cutting the colours of the Spanish flag off his long-sleeved shirt as the colours appeared only on the short-sleeved version of the shirt.
Pique has also been consistently jeered by Spain fans when playing for the national team, in part due to his public barbs at Real Madrid and for his outspoken support for a referendum on Catalan independence.
“I have positioned myself on the right to decide and I continue to believe that.
“In a democratic country like Spain, the right [for the people] to decide is the most democratic thing there is.”
However, Pique has never explicitly stated he would vote for independence in the case of a referendum.
“If you choose one side or the other you get scolded. There is no doubt about that. I haven’t chosen and I have been scolded. Imagine if I had.”
Barca manager Luis Enrique backed Pique’s claim to be president and his decision to step down from international football.
“I think he has explained himself brilliantly. He has a great gift for communicating,” said Enrique on Friday.
“Gerard Pique can be whatever he wants at Barcelona.
“He is already a player, which is the most important or possibly most fun thing.
“He can be a coach, a president, whatever he wants. Firstly, because he is a huge fan of this club and, secondly, he is very well-prepared.”
Pique is expected to be part of the Barcelona side that goes up against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday in the Primera Liga, with the league champions, who are fourth in the table, set to be boosted by the return to action of Lionel Messi.
The Argentine forward has been out of action since suffering a groin injury last month against Atletico Madrid, but he is set to play some part in Saturday’s action.
French defender Samuel Umtiti has also recovered from a knee injury, and Enrique said: “The great news is that players are coming back, such as Samuel Umtiti and Leo.
“Messi has been with the team since Wednesday now. He came back looking good, at a good level. When you come back from an injury you need minutes, in both training and in games ... In principle he’s ready to play, as is Samuel Umtiti.”
Enrique also played down fears over Luis Suarez’s fitness after reports he had picked up a knock playing for Uruguay in midweek.
He said: “He didn’t say he’s injured to me when I spoke with him. Yes, players have to make transatlantic flights and have to recover, but he looks good.”
Zidane has thick skin
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane said he is unaffected by criticism but admitted his side need to improve in all areas as they try to end a run of four games without a win when they travel to Real Betis on Saturday.
Zidane’s Madrid have drawn their last four games in all competitions, the first time they had done so in over a decade, and are missing four key players for the game with Real Betis.
“I’m not going to comment on what people say, I have always accepted criticism. I was critical of myself when I was a player and I’m going to the same now,” Zidane said on Friday.
“I know where I am and I know if you draw three league games you have to change something.
“The players know that too, we need more concentration, more of everything.”
The chief criticism aimed at Zidane is a failure to instil a recognisable style of play in nine months in charge, despite guiding Madrid to the Uefa Champions League title last season and overseeing 16 consecutive league wins.
The former midfield great, however, said hard work was the only solution to Real’s problems.
“Work is what will take us out of this run because the talent is there and the players are professionals.
“We prepare for the games well but perhaps we need to prepare a little better, starting with me,” he said.
“I didn’t invent football, I just want the players to do what they know best and what we’ve done many times before. We had a great six months and I want to find that level again.”
Madrid slumped to a shock 1-1 draw at home to Eibar before the international break, missing influential midfield trio Casemiro, Luka Modric and James Rordriguez, who are all injured for the visit to Betis.
The European champions’ injury crisis deepened when Sergio Ramos strained his knee on international duty for Spain.
He is expected to be out until late November.
“Sergio is our captain and he gives everything on the pitch so it’s frustrating to be without him but there’s nothing we can do about it,” Zidane added.
The plus side for Madrid is that left back Marcelo is available again after overcoming a calf problem.
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