King league pique

Is matched by off-field marketability.For a growing number of football aficionados, satisfying that appetite for a deeper connection with the game's biggest stars feels increasingly inaccessible. Pique feels that disconnect has to be addressed."Clubs nowadays are trying to protect players," he admits. "There's good intention behind it as they don't want them to be exposed. So if you really want to get to know a player... what he likes, his dislikes, his personality, it's very difficult."There are young lads coming through at Barcelona but you don't know much about them because they're overly protected. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Gerard Pique says ex Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi was 'something different' compared to every player he ever played with. "In our world with the Kings League, what we want to do is the opposite. The players create their own channels on Twitch and YouTube. They talk a lot to their communities, and they want to be famous."This is the big difference from traditional football. In our ecosystem, every day there's a lot of content. On Twitch, you can see a coach talking to a player of another club or a president of another club discussing transfers."Football will forever by the king of the sport and the most followed but it's impossible that this could happen in the game we all know."While football's tradition and what Pique describes as a "fractured" ecosystem means altering any rule is met with robust opposition, the Kings League is built around the audience voting for changes themselves on a weekly basis. Image: Pique called time on his glittering career in 2022 Recently, 200,000 streamers voted over a change to the colour of the artificial pitch. Green became black."If there is a rule that doesn't work, we change it the next weekend," adds Pique. "The audience feel the Kings League is owned by them as we give them the power to vote on change."You want offside, or you don't? You want 40-minute or 30-minute games? Now, our grass is black. So, it's real football but in a way it's a video game. There's this mix and this balance that works very well."Some critics have labelled the concept a "circus" for TikTokers and YouTubers, and Pique would be inclined to agree. Image: Pique collected 35 trophies during his 18-year career "In a way, it's true. We are a mix of sport and entertainment.

Without a doubt, Gerard Pique has managed to earn fame in recent times with his Kings League. Last year, the soccer veteran joined with Ibai Llanos and created this unique league. At first, the fans slated the idea and claimed that it definitely wouldn’t work. However, as time passed, Pique’s efforts finally began to bear fruit.After the first season, the FC Barcelona legend cashed out a major profit of $3 million.ADVERTISEMENTArticle continues below this adHowever, a recent interview by certain anonymous individuals from the league has raised quite a few eyebrows. Even after acquiring multiple sponsors, Pique has reportedly not increased the weekly wages of his players in the Kings League.Gerard Pique could be under public scrutiny yet again!While Pique had an impeccable inaugural season with the Kings League, there were some infamous but memorable moments too. Midway through the season, a huge controversy broke out in the league between the Presidents and Pique over a rule breach. But the retired soccer legend managed to handle the controversy without further damage.However, he now has something completely new to deal with. Just days ago, certain individuals with the league leaked a few harsh truths to the media. As per El Confidencial, the fixed stipend for every player in the Kings League is €75. Despite acquiring multiple sponsors, their salaries are still the same. In fact, the players are paid lesser than what their own club jersey is worth i.e., €84 per unit.via ImagoThe source anonymously said, “The anger between the players you can’t imagine. Most of us have made an economic effort for the tournament, many even losing money, because the idea was innovative and nobody knew if it would work”, as translated by Google Translate. This person further reveals that the players are planning to go on strike if this

Gerard Pique's retirement from Barcelona has not signalled the end of his involvement in football with the former defender creating the Kings League at the end of 2022.Pique's final years at Camp Nou were split between a declining influence on the pitch, and a growth of investments and business projects off it, before eventually hanging up his boots.The Kings League is the latest combined brainchild of Pique and his friend — and Twitch streamer — Ibai Llanos, to create a new concept that brings together amateur, professional and former star players.The league has grown rapidly in popularity, with an estimated 1.3 million online views of matches at the start of 2023, with Pique promising more changes in the coming months.MORE: Ronaldinho's son joins Barcelona: Who is Joao de Assis Moreira?What is the Kings League? Rules, teams, formatThe Kings League is a seven-a-side football competition. It is divided into two mini seasons, the Summer Split and Winter Split, both of which include 12 teams playing each other once, with the top eight per split moving on into the playoffs.Each match consists of two 20-minute halves, with all draws settled with a penalty shootout, with six games all played on the same day.Teams are made up of 10 players, with seven starters plus two additional roster spaces for 'guest players', which can include streamers or former professional stars.⚽ GOOOOLAZO de @carlos9castro #KingsLeagueJ9 #InfoJobs pic.twitter.com/D41527z7Zm— Kings League InfoJobs (@KingsLeague) March 5, 2023Alongside the established rules put in place by Pique and Llanos, social media fans are also allowed to vote on new rules, including some bold additions.These have included the penalty shootout rule, plus the allowance of handballs for throw-ins, unlimited substitutions and sinbins for yellow and red cards.The latest fan-decided rule is the inclusion of two 'secret weapons' per team in each

Scenario doesn’t improve next season.READ MORE: 5 Years After Cristiano Ronaldo’s Departure From Spain, FC Barcelona’s Stadium Shockingly Chant ‘SIU’ During Gerard Pique’s Kings League FinalsInterestingly, this major revelation has occurred after more than a month since the completion of the inaugural season.Pique’s success with the inaugural season of the Kings League!For a fact, Pique’s idea of organizing the ‘final four’ of the Kings League at Camp Nou was a major success. The soccer veteran surprisingly sold out over 92,000 tickets for the major soccer event. After cutting all the expenses, the FC Barcelona legend reportedly made a profit of about $3 million. On that day, the league managed to generate revenue from quite a few streams.ADVERTISEMENTArticle continues below this adGerard Pique is the biggest influencer in the world. Man legit sold out Spotify Camp Nou for the Kings league. A massive business man….no one does it like Gerard. 👏 pic.twitter.com/SEHctGTAE2— Stef_andre (@petermurano) March 26, 2023Along with box office sales and online reproductions, the unique soccer league also generated revenue from refreshment purchases and merchandising. Just days ago, the retired soccer star introduced the female counterpart of the league namely the ‘Queens League’. Apart from that, Pique is also preparing to start a Brazilian edition of the league along with soccer legends like Ronaldinho and Neymar.ADVERTISEMENTArticle continues below this adWATCH THIS STORY: Moving Hips With Shakira’s Waka-Waka to Dancing With Ricky Martin’s “La Copa de la Vida” – Collection of Songs That Moved the Soccer FraternityWhat do you think about these anonymous claims made by a supposed Kings League player on their low salaries? Let us know in the comments below.

Gerard Pique arrives at event in Renault Twingo as ex-Manchester United and Barcelona star sees funny side of Shakira diss track and Sergio Aguero laughs Casio stuntPublished: 11:45, 16 Jan 2023Updated: 11:45, 16 Jan 2023Gerard Pique has seen the funny side of Shakira's recent diss track by arriving to an event in a Renault Twingo.The former Barcelona star has retired from football after an incredible playing career but has found himself in the limelight due to his personal life.5Pique drove to an event in a Twingo, a very different car to what the ex-Barcelona star is used toCredit: Twitter: @Goleada_Euro5He was all smiles as he made his way out of the car following Shakira's recent diss trackCredit: Twitter: @Goleada_Euro5The pair were together from 2011 to 2022Credit: AFPPique spent 11 years with pop sensation Shakira before they split last summer with the ex-footballer leaving their family home.Shakira then made headlines after releasing ‘Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol 53’, a release that takes aim at Pique.On the record, the Colombian singer says: "“I’m worth two 22’s. You traded a Ferrari for a Twingo. You traded a Rolex for a Casio," with the track garnering 123million views in the four days since its release.A multimillionaire, Pique will be used to driving far more luxurious vehicles than a Renault Twingo, but arrived at a recent event in the comparatively tiny vehicle, sporting a big smile on his face.It's the not the first retort that the Spaniard has made to Shakira's track, either.Pique, the president of Kings League, a 7-a-side league featuring 12 teams comprised of former players and Spanish influencers, proudly declared that Casio were now sponsoring his team, another response to Shakira's song.5Shakira's new song features the line 'you traded a Ferrari for a Twingo', presumably in reference to his new girlfriendCredit: youtube5Pique recent announced Casio as a sponsor of his seven-a-side league, another reference to the trackCredit: youtubeLifting his wrist, he said: "Casio has sent us wrist watches. We reached a sponsorship agreement with Casio, the King’s League struck a deal with Casio.”Those on the stream, including Sergio Aguero, burst out laughing and when asked if it was a joke, Pique started handed out the timepieces to his fellow live streamers.Pique’s current girlfriend, Clara Chia, also responded to the song by posting a yawning emoji on her Instagram stories, that she later deleted.Keep up to date with all the latest news, rumours and gossip with our LIVE transfer blog

"It's always good to be back," announces Gerard Pique with fondness as he declines the offer of a pause between interviews. "I love being in the UK as I spent four years growing up here. The weather is always grey but at least it's not raining."Osterley's overcast sky is a far cry from Barcelona. But for a man so decorated from an illustrious playing career, not even a deluge could dampen the spirits of someone fresh from an early flight who has won it all. That his medals totalling over 30 are boxed in an office back home betrays an individual in touch with the present.As welcoming a guest as he was gracious on the pitch, Pique is a world champion turned visionary hell-bent on creating a version of the game that is more in keeping with the demands of the modern world.There have been other, less successful, ventures but having hung up his boots following 18 years at the sharp end of the professional game, Pique is confident he has backed another winner.Future of Football: New horizons for the beautiful game?Man City to face Real in CL quarter-finals while Arsenal draw BayernGet Sky Sports on WhatsApp | Download the Sky Sports AppThe Kings League is just over a year on from its launch in Spain, an offbeat seven-a-side game where team owners are content creators expanding to the Americas with Mexico hosting an inaugural World Cup in May. Where late goals count double in 40-minute matches, draws don't exist and audiences are larger than some LaLiga games, what drove one of the greatest defenders of all time to pursue what has been described as the Twenty20 of football?"I felt there was a need to appeal to the next generation," Pique explains to Sky Sports. "There's a lot of young people who are attracted more to entertainment that is short and exciting. Also See: Future of Football: Essential reading Get Sky Sports Stream Sky Sports on NOW Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp! "It was important to find something where they couldn't lose focus. What is happening with traditional football is that 90 minutes is too long for the new generation. Image: Pique played with Xabi Alonso at international level 'Alonso was destined to succeed as a manager' One manager who has been linked with heading to the Premier League is the Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso.Pique played with Alonso at