Madrid (AFP)
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique and Colombian star Shakira announced their separation after more than a decade of marriage that produced two children.
“We regret to confirm our separation,” the couple said in a joint statement. We ask that privacy be respected for the good of our children who are our top priority.
Pique, 35, has been in Barcelona’s colors since 2008 and won the local league title eight times and the European Champions League three times. He also won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Cup in 2012 with his country.
Shakira, 45, is considered one of the most prominent names in world music, and has sold more than 60 million records in her career.
The news of the separation comes more than a week after the Spanish judiciary responded to a request submitted by Shakira, who is accused of being involved in a tax evasion operation worth 14.5 million euros regarding her revenues between 2012 and 2014, which means that her trial is close.
The two stars met before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, during Shakira’s filming of the famous song “Waka Waka”. They have Milan (9 years old) and Sasha (6 years old).
And in recent days, social networking sites have caught fire with a possible betrayal by Pique, and the Spanish newspaper “El Periodico” published a report about a betrayal with a “student in the twenties”.
Other reports added that Shakira suffered health problems as a result of this separation. But she made this clear Saturday on her platforms, commenting on a photo of her with her father, who put a bandage on his forehead: I received messages expressing concern that I was recently seen in an ambulance in Barcelona. I want to inform you that these photos are from last weekend, when my father unfortunately fell and I accompanied him in an ambulance to the hospital where he is now recovering.
And last March, Shakira Pique was classified as “the best central defender in the world”, after his participation in the great victory of his team Barcelona against its host Real Madrid 4-0 in the Clasico of the Spanish League. “Gerrard doesn’t let me talk about these things publicly,” she wrote on social media. “But only through his courage can he perform likewise, overcoming any injury and pain by always giving his best.”
The Lebanese-born singer followed him on Twitter with 53 million people and 73 million on Instagram, “Not because he’s my husband, but he’s the best center back in the world.”