Barcelona star Gerard Pique posts his Payslip on Social Media after reports emerged that he was the club’s Highest Earner, taking home almost €12m-a-season after Tax

Barcelona defender, Gerard Pique has shared his payslip online to dispel a TV report that called him Barcelona’s highest-paid player.

Spanish Television presenter, Lluis Canu said Pique was taking home almost £12m a year after tax that is about £1m a month but the footballer has revealed he took home £1.94m after tax for the last six months of 2021.

Pique was one of a number of stars to take a pay cut amid Barca’s financial woes. Posting his payslip on Twitter, it could be seen that half of Pique’s yearly salary, paid to him in December totalled €2,328,884.39 (£1.94m).

Pique tweeted: ‘People like this are paid by public television to defend their friends. Here is 50% of my salary as of 30 December. Have a bit of respect for yourself.’

Canut had claimed Pique, on €28m (£23.4m) gross, and fellow veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba on €23m (£19.2m) and €20m (£16.7m) respectively were the club’s top earners.

Barcelona also came out to deny the suggestion. The club said: ‘The information on the salaries of certain first-team players has not, in any case, been supplied by the club and its origin is unknown.