La Liga: Pique caught saying Fabregas 'leaving' Barca

MADRID - Gerard Pique has been caught on camera apparently telling Spain coach Vicente del Bosque that Barcelona teammate Cesc Fabregas is poised to leave the La Liga side.

Fabregas returned to boyhood club Barca in 2011 after an eight-year stint at Arsenal and he has been linked with a move back to the Premier League, with Chelsea and Manchester United reportedly keen to sign the 27-year-old midfielder.

Appearing together at a promotional event in Washington, where Spain is preparing the defense of their World Cup crown, Pique and Del Bosque were recorded apparently discussing Fabregas and a move away from Barca for a fee of 33 million euros ($45 million).

"He [Fabregas] told me that it is already done," Pique says.

"He is leaving already, 33 million euros he said," adds the center back, who came through the youth ranks with Fabregas and is a close personal friend of his.

Del Bosque later told Spanish radio he was upset the conversation had been recorded and details published.

"I don't want to comment on anything but it does not seem in good taste to me that this conversation came out," he told Radio Marca.

"I cannot judge the decisions clubs make," he added. "He [Fabregas] is a national team player and I must say he is training superbly."

Fabregas returned to Barca just as Pep Guardiola's stunningly successful side was starting to lose its luster and he has never fully won over the demanding Nou Camp fans despite scoring and creating plenty of goals.

The Catalan club is trying to rebuild after they ended the 2013-14 season without major silverware and coach Gerardo Martino quit and was replaced by former Barca and Spain midfielder Luis Enrique. - Reuters