By announcing his immediate retirement, to everyone's surprise last November, Gérard Piqué was surely expecting a little lull, after a busy career.
It's quite the opposite, the former Spanish defender of FC Barcelona is in the midst of a professional, marital and legal storm.
Hard to do worse.
Last part of his adventures, the end of his adventure with the Davis Cup.
The 2010 world champion and his company Kosmos Global Tennis had revolutionized the legendary team competition for four years, ending trips during the calendar year to choose a single week, in a single place, and abandoning the five sets .
A failed revolution since, in addition to the failures of hearings, the partnership between the ITF and Kosmos has just ended, when it was planned for a period of 25 years, against 3 billion dollars.
Pique wanted to do "a Tennis World Cup" there.
It will only have had the right to organize four editions, before the ATP Cup, the Laver Cup and then the United Cup (first edition this year) put an end to all competition.
The only reason for consolation at the moment: the success of the Kings League, a 7-a-side football championship produced by Gérard Piqué and the Iberian streamer Ibai Llanos on Twitch, which is breaking audience records.
“You claim to be a champion”
In parallel with this failure, Gérard Piqué also has his ears ringing because of Shakira.
The Colombian singer, with whom he gave birth to Milan (9 years old) and Sasha (7 years old), but from whom he separated since last June, continues to undermine his popularity.
More used to giving them than to receiving tackles, the former Catalan defender has surely already listened to Shakira's new title, entitled "BZRP Music Sessions #53" which is specially dedicated to him.
“You claim to be a champion but when I needed you, you gave your worst version,” hums the pop star in particular.
The interpreter of "Waka waka" even takes the opportunity to attack the new companion of her ex-boyfriend: the Spanish Clara Chia, 23 years old.
“You changed a Ferrari for a Twingo”, “A Rolex for a Casio”, she sings to electronic music tinged with Latin rhythms.
Not enough to make it a gold record but to make the buzz on social networks.
But that's not all.
The former Manchester United player continues to deal with his troubles with the Spanish courts.
Already sentenced in 2019 to reimburse more than 2 million euros to the tax authorities for image rights fraud, Gérard Piqué is at the heart of an investigation into the awarding of the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia .
He is suspected, like Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation, of having received a commission of 24 million euros through his company Kosmos so that Saudi Arabia can host the competition.
In short, it stings...