Gerard Piqué has posted his wages to show what an international footballer’s pay slip looks like.
The Barcelona star took to social media back in January 2022 to reveal with fans his payslip for the last six months and the figure may be shocking to some fans.
The Spanish footballer, who retired back in November of last year, boasts a whole load of impressive sporting accolades throughout his career and is considered to be one of the greatest defenders of his generation.
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Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Piqué cleared up some reports made by sports journalist Lluis Canut on Catalan television that he had raked in a whopping €14million (£11.7m) for just one season.
The translated tweet reads: "Characters like this charging public television to defend their friends.
"Here is 50% of my payroll collected on December 30th. Have some respect for yourself."
Accompanying the tweet was a screenshot of his payslip which totalled to €2,328,884.39 (£1.94m) which is clearly considerably lower than the alleged wage he was reported to be earning per season.
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Canut also claimed that Piqué was joined by the likes of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba as the club's highest earners.
And it wasn't just Piqué who called out Canut's reports as Barcelona FC also denied the claims.
In a statement, they said: "In relation to comments made by Lluis Canut on TV3, Barcelona would like to clarify the following.
"1. The information on the salaries of certain first team players has not, in any case, been supplied by the club and its origin is unknown.
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"2. In any case, the amounts referred to in the information are erroneous and do not conform to reality. Furthermore, in the case of the first three players referred to [Piqué, Busquets and Alba], it gives fixed amounts which, as the sums involved are based on variables, will possibly never be reached.
"3. It is also false that the aforementioned players have only deferred their salary. Piqué, Busquets and Alba gave up part of their salary when they signed contract renewals last summer."
Later that same year, in June 2022, Shakira publicly announced her split from Piqué of over 10 years.
A statement from the 'Wake Waka' singer's agency reads: "We regret to confirm that we are parting ways. For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect their privacy.
"Thank you for your understanding."
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Shakira, 46, and Piqué, 36, had been together since 2010 and have two sons together – Milan and Sasha.
Although they were together for 11 years, the former couple never married.
Rhiannon Ingle