President Pique? Don't rule it out, says Barca defender

FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says he has no ambition to move in to coaching when he hands up his boots, instead he aims to become club President.

The 29-year-old, who announced a week ago that he would retire from the Spanish national team following the 2018 World Cup finals, laid out his plans for the future in an interview with Catalan TV network, TV3.

"I want to be Barca president. It's the step I would like to take when I retire," said Pique, adding that he didn't see himself moving into coaching.

"I don't think I would enjoy it that much," he said, adding that in contrast he believed he could "do very well for this club as president because it is my passion."

Pique also explained his decision to retire from international football, which came after he was falsely accused of cutting the sleeves of his Spain shirt in order to remove the Spanish flag.

It is the latest of controversies and the player has been the victim of insults, whistles and boos in many grounds, while playing for Barcelona after stating he supported a referendum on the issue of Catalan independence.

The defender said that being in favor of a referendum didn't necessarily mean he would vote for independence.

"I have positioned myself in favor of the right to decide and I continue to believe that. In a democratic country like Spain, that right is the most democratic thing there is," he said, adding that whatever view he held would be criticized by one side or the other in the Catalan independence debate. Endit