Out of favor defender Gerard Pique is set to hold showdown talks with Barcelona about the club’s plan for him.
The former Manchester United defender’s relationship with boss Luis Enrique has become increasingly strained in recent weeks and reports in Spain suggest that Enrique would be happy to see the Spanish defender leave.
Pique’s relationship with the new Barca coach sunk to new levels against Almeria this weekend as the coach made a show of sending him to warm up, despite all three substitutions having been used.
Yet the weekend’s incidents didn’t sit well with some senior figures inside the club, who view the centre-back, under contract until 2019, as someone who should be a key player for years to come.
Enrique is under tremendous pressure at Barca due to the sides poor start to the season and not everyone at the Camp Nou agrees that Pique should be forced out, especially with a looming transfer ban from FIFA.
Manchester United have already been linked with Pique, as Louis van Gaal on the hunt for upgrades in defence, while Chelsea are also known to be monitoring events closely.
Where Pique plays next season might also come down to the wishes of his superstar wife Shakira, who reportedly is not that thrilled about swapping the sun of Barcelona for the rain of Manchester. Which might give London-based Chelsea a leg up in the negations.