Laporta says Pique is a huge part of the club

Joan Laporta covered several topcis in an interview with 'Barca TV' like Messi's return, Xavi Hernandez's future and Pique's retirement. The Barca president responded to all the questions. 

"Being knocked out of the Champions League was a setback. We can't deny it. It was a big blow, but the main target this year is winning the league," he said. 

Laporta also commented on Pique's retirement: "It's an honour to have been president while Pique was playing. He's behaved extraordinarily well at Barca and with all of us. It was a difficult season. He was going to find it more difficult on the pitch, but he is a winner and he thought he could last longer. However, he didn't play as much as he thought he would."

"We spoke in the summer and at the end of the summer. He told us 'if I don't play, we'll sit down and sort out my departure' and we reached an agreement. We can only be grateful to him," he added.

The president himself ended by thanking Pique for everything he had achieved at the club. "He's part of the Barca club crest. He did a lot at the club and he knows it's his home, we're here for what he needs."