Jordi Alba has defended Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique’s decision to play for the Catalan national team after retiring from Spain international duty.
Pique retired from Spanish national duty after last summer’s World Cup after winning 102 caps for the nation but played for the Catalan select side against Venezuela last week.
“To be honest, I haven’t spoken to him in regard to that decision,” Alba told reporters.
“He will have his reasons for playing and you will have to ask him, honestly I have not spoken with Gerard.
“It is his decision to leave the national team and now he wants to play for Catalonia – they have one game a year and he will want to play; the question has to be for him.”
Pique has received criticism from some sections within the Spanish press for his continued calls for an independence referendum for the Catalan region.
