Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has revealed that he wanted to retire from international football after the last World Cup in 2014.
He said that he was not motivated anymore after having won the Euros and World Cup in previous years.
The player has revealed that it is only after talking with the coach Vicente Del Bosque that he has continued to play for the Spanish national team. He said that he was disappointed by the way Spain play in the World Cup in Brazil and felt that it was perhaps time to give chances to other players.
Pique said that he had already announced to his friends and relatives that he would not continue after the World Cup 2014 and it is only the Spanish coach that convince him to change his mind.
He said that it was also a question of motivation as he has won so many things already. He said that he was won all the different trophies available at club level with Barcelona and that he already had won the Euros and the World Cup with Spain. He felt at that time there was no reason for him to continue fighting and that it was better for him to leave the international team.
He said that since the arrival of Enrique at the head of Barcelona things have changed. The coach has successfully motivated the players, and they are ready to fight again. He said that he wants to play again and to come back to his best level.
Gerard Pique said that he wants to prove to himself that he is still the best in the world and that he wants to participate in the next World Cup in Russia. He has however revealed that he will be retiring after the 2018 World Cup.