Gerard Pique 'told Barcelona NOT to renew Lionel Messi's contract'
Daily MailGerard Pique pleaded with Barcelona not to renew Lionel Messi's contract last summer in order to save the club's finances, according to reports. Gerard Pique reportedly told Barcelona chief Joan Laporta to let Lionel Messi go Barcelona told Messi they couldn't afford to keep him last summer so he joined PSG And according to Spanish newspaper El Pais, Barcelona defender Pique betrayed his lifelong friend Messi by urging the club to let the forward go for the sake of the club. Last month, reports in Spain claimed that Messi felt deceived by Pique after the defender cut his Barcelona wage package down until after the forward had left. Meanwhile, SPORT claimed that Messi refused to invite Pique to a Barcelona reunion involving Alba and Busquets during last month's international break.