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Former Barcelona and Manchester United defender Gerard Pique is under official investigation by a Spanish court for his alleged involvement in a deal which saw the Spanish Super Cup moved to Saudi Arabia.
Pique’s company, Kosmos reportedly signed an agreement with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), securing 40 million euros (£34 million) for brokering the deal, while the RFEF would receive 400 million euros (£340 million).
Court documents said the agreement was signed in 2019. Judge Delia Rodrigo said “the facts under investigation in the present proceedings originate from possible illegalities with criminal implications in contracting or agreements.”
Pique, 37, has now been formally included among a group of people under official investigation over the alleged matters.
The case has been under investigation since June 2022, following the leak of audio recordings between Pique and then-RFEF president Luis Rubiales. In March, police arrested Rubiales, who has also defended the legality of the deal, upon his return from a two-month trip in the Dominican Republic.
Last September, Rubiales stepped down from the RFEF after kissing Spain forward Jenni Hermoso following a World Cup final. He is facing trial for sexual assault in a separate lawsuit.
Pique played twice for Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia and on both occasions, Barcelona and Pique failed to make it to the final.
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