Barcelona publicly criticise Gerard Pique for his role in Antoine Griezmann’s ‘Decision’ video
French international teased the world for weeks about his future then releases 30-minute documentary announcing he is snubbing switch to Catalonia
BARCELONA have slammed Gerard Pique for his part in Antoine Greizmann’s video to announce he was staying at Atletico Madrid.
The French striker looked odds-on to join the Catalan giants for £87million after the World Cup.
However, the 27-year-old released a 30-minute documentary made by Pique’s production company Kosmos saying he had snubbed a move to Barca to sign a new deal with Los Rojiblancos.
Club vice-president Jordi Mestre used unveiling of former defender Eric Abidal as new sporting director to reveal they were not impressed with the Spanish international.
He said: "We respect the decision of Griezmann to renew with Atletico Madrid, like we respect the decision of any player about his future.
"We have told Pique that his participation (in Griezmann's documentary about his future) caused surprise and uneasiness both at the club and among Barcelona fans.
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"We will speak internally to Pique and (Samuel) Umtiti and we will not make any more public evaluations on the matter."
“I am very sorry and we regret that our members have been disappointed by the final resolution (of this saga.”
But Pique insists he did nothing wrong and agreed to help make the video because he thought Griezmann would be joining him at the club.
Pique said: “I’m surprised by the reaction of the people of Barcelona, who doubt my commitment and love I have for this club.
“It is very surprising. It’s one of my companies (which produced the video) but the idea is several weeks old.
“I spoke with Griezmann. He told me there was a possibility he would go to Barcelona. I told him we were going to film, that it would be very good content for people to see from the inside how such a decision is made.
“From there I obviously moved away, finally, he said he was staying. It’s like that, he stays.
“I don’t give any advice. I only put cameras there so that we knew what was happening.
“When I knew things, I told people at the club. There have not been two versions of the end (of the video) recorded.
“I don’t know who said that. It’s a new concept and the novelties are always being debated.
“It’s good that people feel close to the player. Finally, he does not come but other players will come… I did not betray Barca.”