Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho is doing everything he can to force his Nou Camp move insists Gerard Pique, who also says Lionel Messi can sign his new contract 'when he wants'

  • Barcelona have had several bids over £100m rejected for Philippe Coutinho 
  • Gerard Pique says demands are being hiked because of the Neymar transfer fee
  • He thinks Barcelona remains an attraction, with Ousmane Dembele also chased

Gerard Pique believes Philippe Coutinho is doing everything he can to force his way out of Liverpool, but says Barcelona are struggling to close the deal because the Neymar money has sent the value of their transfer targets through the roof.

Pique told Sportsmail: ‘I think players still want to join Barcelona, and they are showing that as is the case with Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele. One by putting in a transfer request and the other with his actions at Dortmund. It suggests that they are both delighted about the idea of coming; they want to come.

‘The problem is, we sold Ney and the clubs know we have the money from that, and the market is the way it is. I don’t think it’s because the players don’t want to come, they are keen to come to Barca, but right now sign whatever player the club wants, it seems to cost more.’

Gerard Pique believes Philippe Coutinho is doing everything to force his way out of Liverpool

Gerard Pique believes Philippe Coutinho is doing everything to force his way out of Liverpool

Pique says their bids for Coutinho are being rejected because of the Neymar transfer fee

Pique says their bids for Coutinho are being rejected because of the Neymar transfer fee

Neymar joined PSG for £198m and this drives other clubs' demands up according to Pique

Neymar joined PSG for £198m and this drives other clubs' demands up according to Pique

Speaking at a Poker Stars event in Barcelona, Pique also defended Lionel Messi’s decision to bide his time over the new contract that he has agreed but not yet signed.


Pique said: ‘All players have the right to sign or renew their contracts when they want to. In the end a renewal is a question for the club and the player. That's true in all cases, I’m not just talking about Messi.

‘When the two sides agree and they find the moment to sign, they sign. We hope it happens as soon as possible.’

Asked if he thought supporters should expect Messi's eventual departure, Pique added: ‘Everyone knows he loves the club more than anyone. People shouldn’t be concerned that he won’t sign.’

Pique has been at the centre of the cold war between the board and the players who are concerned about the lack of signings with just a week to go of the transfer window, but he was in conciliatory mood and shot down suggestions he already sees himself in the boardroom saying: ‘I’m not player-president, absolutely not.’

Pique thinks Barcelona remains a huge attraction, with Ousmane Dembele also chased

Pique thinks Barcelona remains a huge attraction, with Ousmane Dembele also chased

He admitted that the board’s task was tough but also said: ‘We have got a good squad but it’s true that if more players arrive there will be more competition in each position and that is always best for the team.

'I have every confidence that the board will do all they can to get players in before the end of the month.’

Pique was pictured with Neymar at the Brazilian’s birthday celebrations for his son Davi Lucca this week, and after his acrimonious departure from Barcelona many supporters were upset at the images.

Pique was also accused of timing the posting of the photos on social media so as to aim a dig at the board, who the same afternoon had confirmed they were filing a lawsuit against Neymar.

Pique also defended Lionel Messi's contract delays, saying he will sign 'when he wants to'

Pique also defended Lionel Messi's contract delays, saying he will sign 'when he wants to'

‘These things happen,’ said Pique about the photographs. ‘You have to put them in context. We were at a celebration, a children’s party with Ney, and it’s normal for there to be photos.

‘He wasn’t just a team mate, he was a friend and just because he has left we are not going to renounce our friendship with him. It was just a coincidence that it was the same day. We all need to be together.

'I understand that because Ney has gone the fans could be upset at the photos but they have to understand that Ney was here for five years and he is more than just a team-mate, he is a great friend.

'Independent of the fact that football is important – of the things that aren’t important it’s the most important – in the end what really matters are the friendships and people, and we are not going to renounce our friendship with Ney because he has left the club in a certain way.

'He is a great friend not just of me but also of all the squad. He should be able to share a party with his son and with our children and sharing photos doesn’t do any harm. We talked about Paris, how he’s fitting in, just normal topics of conversation between friends.

‘I understand that there are people who do not understand the way he has left the club but there was a club that paid the buy-out clause and Ney decided to leave.

'This is a job of work and people make professional decisions. He decided to go but that does not change our friendship. We should not have to hide our friendship. I don’t think one thing contradicts the other.’

 Pique was criticised for posing with Neymar on same day Barca began legal action against him

 Pique was criticised for posing with Neymar on same day Barca began legal action against him

Asked if he felt Barcelona’s directors made a mistake by setting Neymar’s clause at £198m instead of the billion euros mark at which Real Madrid have set Cristiano Ronaldo’s, he said: ‘I try to put myself in the position of both sides. I understand that a lot of people have asked the same question why didn’t he have a clause of a billion.

‘It’s because in the end it’s a matter for both sides. Ney perhaps had it in his mind that he wanted to leave door open in case he ended up wanting to leave the club. It’s not that the club didn’t want to give him a billion buy-out clause but would Ney accept it?

'So maybe Ney accepts earning slightly less to have a lower clause. It’s a negotiation. I’m convinced our board would have liked to have put a higher clause. If they didn’t do it, it is because the other party was also negotiating and it tries to defend its side.’

Asked if Real Madrid were the team to beat in this coming season, he added: ‘They are the defending champions in both competitions so in that sense yes. They are doing things the right way and they are on a good run. 

'No matter how good your form is there still comes a day when you lose so we have to take advantage of that.’