In leaked audio, Piqué asks for help to play at Olympics
MADRID (AP) — Gerard Piqué requested for assist from the president of the Spanish soccer federation to play on the Tokyo Olympics, audio stolen from the federation revealed Wednesday.
The main points, printed by the El Confidencial newspaper, got here after different audio had revealed that the Barcelona defender helped to barter a 24 million euro ($26 million) fee to take the federation’s Spanish Tremendous Cup to Saudi Arabia.
Piqué could be heard asking federation president Luis Rubiales to speak to Olympic crew coach Luis de la Fuente and arrange a gathering between them.
“You must do that for me, Rubi, you must make it occur,” Piqué stated. “We’ve to maintain it a secret and discuss to the coach … I’ll go to Madrid and we sit with him. We’ve to do it in a method that it’s not out wherever. The three of us must hold this very secret till the top, don’t you assume?”
Rubiales agreed to speak to the coach however stated it could be as much as De la Fuente to determine what to do.
“Sure, we’ve got to maintain it a secret, and if the coach needs to do it, let’s go forward with it, I’d be thrilled,” Rubiales stated.
Piqué stated he didn’t need the data leaked to maintain different gamers from making an attempt to request the identical factor. He stated he had heard that Sergio Ramos additionally needed to play and certain leaked that to the media to attempt to strain the coach.
The president ultimately talked to De la Fuente and stated the coach requested to attend till the nationwide crew had secured its qualification for the Olympic event.
“He stated that after the crew qualifies he’ll discuss to you,” Rubiales stated. “I don’t wish to strain him. He stated he wish to discuss to you, however after the crew qualifies.”
Rubiales spoke publicly for the primary time in a information convention on Wednesday and stated that Piqué was not the one participant who talked to him about going to the Olympics.
“I talked to De la Fuente about him and about different gamers as nicely,” Rubiales stated. “I advised him that some known as and that he needed to make his personal determination. Piqué wasn’t the one participant who known as.”
Neither Piqué nor Ramos made it to the Olympic squad, which ended with the silver medal after shedding to Brazil within the last. The over-23 gamers known as as much as the crew have been Mikel Merico, Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos.
The discharge of the audio this week got here after the federation stated it was focused by hackers who additionally stole emails, textual content messages and paperwork involving its high officers. The knowledge was then launched to El Confidencial.
In a few of the audio, Piqué advised Rubiales they wanted to get the previous King Juan Carlos concerned to attempt to assist negotiate the Tremendous Cup cope with the Saudi Arabians.
Piqué defended himself on Tuesday after it was revealed he helped take the revamped event to Saudi Arabia as a part of an settlement price 40 million euros ($43.4 million) per event for the federation.
Piqué’s Kosmos group can be paid 4 million euros ($4.3 million) per event by the Saudi organizers for negotiating the six-year settlement on the time. Piqué stated the cash can be divided between the golf equipment, and the federation would hold about 6 million euros ($6.5 million). He stated he by no means acquired something from the Spanish federation.
The 35-year-old defender stated he didn’t have something to cover and was proud to have achieved the Tremendous Cup deal. He stated he is aware of how “to separate a industrial deal from my job as a participant” and that “a battle of curiosity will rely on every individual’s personal values.”
The outspoken Rubiales defended Piqué, saying there was nothing unlawful or unethical in what was performed.
“I needed there have been extra gamers like Piqué, who’re able to doing different issues,” Rubiales stated. “I’ve at all times pushed to maintain gamers from being performed after they cease taking part in.”
Rubiales and Piqué additionally denied wrongdoing in dealings with the membership owned by Piqué, Andorra, and dismissed criticism that Actual Madrid and Barcelona have been being favored by receiving more cash than different golf equipment within the Tremendous Cup deal.
Rubiales stated he understood criticism by folks like Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone, and stated he was open to speak to him and clarify every part.
Rubiales was upset that few folks have been speaking concerning the assault by hackers on the federation.
“I am afraid,” Rubiales stated, “that these identical individuals who acquired the paperwork can even come and put a bag of cocaine within the trunk of my automotive.”
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Extra AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni
Tales Azzoni, The Related Press
