Pique admits tweet on Neymar staying a bluff

BARCELONA: Gerard Pique knew Neymar had decided to leave Barcelona long before the Brazilian com

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pleted his world record 222mil (RM1.1bil) move to Paris St Germain.

Pique has been mocked for posting “he stays” with a picture of him and Neymar together on Barca’s pre-season tour to the United States on July 23.

However, Pique claimed he was using social media as a last throw of the dice to keep Neymar with the Catalan giants as the Brazilian had intimated his decision to leave to his former teammates as early as Lionel Messi’s wedding on June 30.

“There was a group of players that tried to convince him to stay and the day I wrote the tweet ‘ he stays’ I knew he was going,” said Pique.

“I knew it was the last shot I had, to use social media and public opinion to try and convince him to stay.”

And the Spanish international insisted he didn’t regret it despite Neymar’s short-lived anger at the post.

“It was to try and help this club, to try and retain a player that for me is unique, with unique talent,” added Pique.

“I knew it would be very difficult because it was a decision he had taken a while ago and it wasn’t possible but at least I tried.”

Neymar’s decision to take what many perceive as a step down from the fierce competition between Barca and Real at the top of La Liga to France’s Ligue 1 has divided opinion.

The Brazil captain is reportedly

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set to earn 30mil (RM152mil) a season after tax but Pique called on Barca fans not to hold a grudge against a player who won two La Liga titles, a Champions League and scored 105 goals in four years at the club. — AFP